What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPrunus Persica Juice
MoisturisingBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPolycitronellol
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Prunus Persica Juice, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Tocopherol, Betaine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Xylitylglucoside, Xylitol, Anhydroxylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Mica, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Polycitronellol, Glycine Soja Oil, Triethyl Citrate, Isoamyl Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 77891, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole
Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbic Acid, Laureth-23, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Ferulic Acid, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePhenoxyethanol 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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
