What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Decapeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-78
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Decapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Gallyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Methylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningDisodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Escin
TonicAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPolyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingFraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Polypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract
HumectantCetraria Islandica Thallus Extract
HumectantSphagnum Magellanicum Extract
Skin ConditioningRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSilanetriol
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Niacinamide, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Decapeptide-22, Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Decapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Pentapeptide-18, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Darutoside, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Zinc PCA, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Superoxide Dismutase, Escin, Ascorbic Acid, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglucuronic Acid, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Polypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract, Cetraria Islandica Thallus Extract, Sphagnum Magellanicum Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Arginine, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Glycine Soja Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Lecithin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Silanetriol, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sorbitol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Polyvinyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Propyl Gallate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenylpropanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientParaffin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Nylon-12
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningMethylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
Abrasive
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-6 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingMethylparaben
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Pentasodium Pentetate
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Hesperetin Laurate
Antioxidant
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Paraffin, Propylene Glycol, Silica, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Nylon-12, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Methylsilanol/Silicate Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG-6 Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Citrate, Methylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Caffeine, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylparaben, Menthoxypropanediol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Pentasodium Pentetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Hesperetin Laurate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Chrysin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside (AA-2G) is one of the most stable vitamin C derivatives out there.
It's made by attaching a glucose molecule to ascorbic acid; this glucose "cap" shields the vitamin C from air, light, heat, and metal ions that normally cause pure ascorbic acid to oxidize.
Once on your skin, the enzyme alpha-glucosidase snips off the glucose and gradually releases active ascorbic acid right where it's needed. Basically, it behaves like a slow-release pro-vitamin C with less of a stinging that high-strength ascorbic acid can cause.
The research supports the classic vitamin C benefits as well. In lab and human studies, AA-2G slowed down the skin's production of melanin (the pigment behind dark spots) and helped shield skin cells against sun damage better than ascorbyl phosphate.
These studies also showed AA-2G released vitamin C over a longer period.
A frequently cited manufacturer trial found that a 2% AA-2G face cream significantly improved wrinkle depth and skin roughness after 45 days.
And in 2009, a clinical trial showed it meaningfully lightened dark patches on the gums compared to a placebo.
There's also collagen-synthesis support (since vitamin C is a required cofactor for that) and an antioxidant effect too.
Typical usage is usually between 0.5-5% and most studies/products land around 2%.
AA-2G performs best when formulated at a mildly acidic pH (~5-7) which is much gentler than the pH that pure vitamin C demands (~2.5-3.5).
Just one thing worth knowing: the in-skin conversation rate is only about 55-60% by weight. So a 5% AA-2G product delivers roughly 2.75-3% of actual active vitamin C. On top of that, skin absorption is relatively low because the ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
