What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Yeast Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentLecithin
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Glutathione
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Vitex Agnus Castus Extract
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Yeast Beta-Glucan, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Lecithin, Arbutin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linolenic Acid, Glutathione, Linoleic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Cyclodextrin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Caprylate, Propanediol, Benzoic Acid, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTalc
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Cyclomethicone, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Benzophenone-3, Ethoxydiglycol, Sulfur, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Caprylate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Triethanolamine, Bisabolol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hyaluronic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Sorbitan Caprylate yet.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
