What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Pumice
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Mannitol
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAmylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantQuartz
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Abies Sibirica Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Pinene
Masking
Beta-Caryophyllene
Masking
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Pumice, Glycerin, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Propanediol, Sodium Chloride, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Charcoal Powder, Zea Mays Starch, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Polydextrose, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Calcium Gluconate, Quartz, Sodium Hydroxide, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene, Beta-Caryophyllene
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pumice
Abrasive
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Powder
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCitrus Latifolia Peel Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pumice, Sucrose Stearate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Trihydroxystearin, Propanediol, Water, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Sucrose Palmitate, Citrus Latifolia Peel Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolPumice is an exfoliant.
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 TocopherolWater. 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
