This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
This hydrating emulsion is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingTrehalose
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Lactic Acid, Isopropyl Isostearate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Stearyl Alcohol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Panthenol, Sodium Lactate, Trehalose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Dimethiconol, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Ascorbic Acid, Avena Sativa Peptide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Butylene Glycol
HumectantC12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Aphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cetyl Alcohol, Triethylhexanoin, Pentylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Phosphate, Arginine, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactococcus/Hyaluronic Acid Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Aphanothece Sacrum Exopolysaccharides, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidWater. 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