What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantTricaprylin
PerfumingMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Tricaprylin, Methylpropanediol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Ferulic Acid, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolymethylsilsesquioxane
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantResveratrol Dimethyl Ether
AntioxidantQuercetin
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
Bleaching3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCitronellyl Methylcrotonate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Resveratrol Dimethyl Ether, Quercetin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Morus Alba Root Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lecithin, Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, BHT, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cholate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, CI 15985
Reviews
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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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 HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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