What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantJojoba Esters
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingHymenaea Courbaril Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCasearia Sylvestris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSchinus Terebinthifolia Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMalic Acid
BufferingConobea Scoparioides Leaf Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Silica, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Trehalose, Jojoba Esters, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Maltodextrin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Parfum, Hymenaea Courbaril Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Sodium Gluconate, Casearia Sylvestris Leaf Extract, Schinus Terebinthifolia Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Malic Acid, Conobea Scoparioides Leaf Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Water
Skin ConditioningEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantTricholoma Matsutake Mycelium Ferment Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantDaucus Carota Sativa Extract
PerfumingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentErgothioneine
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGellan Gum
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMalic Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethyl Macadamiate, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate, Malachite Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Mycelium Ferment Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Ergothioneine, Trehalose, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Gellan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Malic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthyl Macadamiate isn't fungal acne safe.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMalic Acid is an acid with both AHA and BHA properties, but is considered an AHA because its AHA properties are stronger.
It can be naturally found in unripe fruit and especially apples (its name from the latin word "malum", meaning apple!).
Like other AHAs, malic acid gently removes the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal smoother, brighter skin underneath.
Though it’s considered milder and less potent than glycolic or lactic acid, it can help improve:
Due to its larger molecular structure, it penetrates the skin more slowly and is often used in combination with other AHAs to enhance their overall effectiveness.
Malic acid often plays a role in balancing a product’s pH and is usually included in small amounts (around 1-2%) as a supporting exfoliant.
As with all exfoliating acids, you should wear sunscreen daily when using malic acid to protect your newly resurfaced skin.
Fun fact: Malic acid is the compound responsible for the tart flavor of apples and other sour fruits.
While research on malic acid is limited compared to glycolic or lactic acid, it’s still a safe and mild exfoliant.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Malic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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 TocopherolTrehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.
In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.
Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.
Learn more about TrehaloseWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum