What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingPolianthes Tuberosa Extract
MaskingCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingJasminum Officinale Flower Wax
EmollientGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicHydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicSalicylic Acid
Masking
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glucosamine Hcl
Arginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingPolysilicone-11
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Squalane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract, Polianthes Tuberosa Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Wax, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Morus Nigra Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Phospholipids, Cholesterol, Glucosamine Hcl, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Tromethamine, Polysilicone-11, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, 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.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateSodium 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 Water
