What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
EmulsifyingPetrolatum
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantFagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicLecithin
EmollientCutaneous Lysate
MoisturisingTetrapeptide-21
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTocotrienols
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientCapryloyl Carnosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzoic Acid
MaskingSqualene
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingIsohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Petrolatum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Bisabolol, Caffeine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Lecithin, Cutaneous Lysate, Tetrapeptide-21, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Citric Acid, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Tocotrienols, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Capryloyl Carnosine, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid, Squalene, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetate, Phytosterols, Sodium Citrate, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDecyl Oleate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingCeteareth-20
CleansingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCutaneous Lysate
MoisturisingTetrapeptide-21
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCapryloyl Carnosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningMyreth-3 Myristate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Decyl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Ceteareth-20, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cutaneous Lysate, Tetrapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Capryloyl Carnosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Ceramide Ng, Myreth-3 Myristate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Capryloyl Carnosine yet.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidWe don't have a description for Cutaneous Lysate yet.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Acetate is a peptide.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTetrapeptide-21 is a signal peptide. It helps boost collagen, hyaluronic acid, and fibronectin.
Fibronectin is a protein found in our skin's extracellular matrix that plays a role in cell adhesion, tissue repair, and wound healing.
Tetrapeptide-21 works by mimicking skin-protein breakdown signals, telling the skin to produce new structural proteins like collagen.
Preliminary studies show it works better than matrixyl and produced twice the amount of collagen in lab tests.
Learn more about Tetrapeptide-21Water. 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