What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientIsostearyl Glyceryl Ether
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Coenochloris Signiensis Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Trisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Retinol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tocopherol, Parfum, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Xanthan Gum, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Isostearyl Glyceryl Ether, Bisabolol, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Lactic Acid, CI 19140, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Sulfite, Trisodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate
Sodium Gluceptate
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Propanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Retinol, Undecane, Tridecane, Tocopherol, Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate, Sodium Gluceptate, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolTocopherol 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
