This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Saccharide Isomerate and Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14720
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycerin, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, CI 42090, CI 14720
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingNiacinamide 5%
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid 3%
Astringent
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine 2%
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin 2%
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientGlutathione 1%
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningSaxifraga Sarmentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Pisum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Thiocyanate
StabilisingLactoferrin
Skin ConditioningLactoperoxidase
StabilisingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingGlucose Pentaacetate
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Arisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dipeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Niacinamide 5%, Tranexamic Acid 3%, Cyclopentasiloxane, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine 2%, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin 2%, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Glutathione 1%, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Arbutin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Linolenic Acid, PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfite, Acetyl Tyrosine, Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Pisum Sativum Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Thiocyanate, Lactoferrin, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Glucose Pentaacetate, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Ubiquinone, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceteareth-25, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Kojic Acid, Hexapeptide-2, Carbomer, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Arginine, 4-Butylresorcinol, Dextrin, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hyaluronic Acid, Dipeptide-4, Retinyl Palmitate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCholesterol 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 CholesterolGlycerin (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 PhenoxyethanolPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSaccharide Isomerate comes from sugars found in corn. It is a skin hydrator.
The structure of this ingredient can be altered to be more similar to the carbohydrates found in our skin. This ability to mimic our skin gives it hydrating properties.
Specifically, saccharide Isomerate is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air to our skin.
Research shows Saccharide Isomerate to be an effective moisturizer.
Learn more about Saccharide IsomerateSodium 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 Hyaluronate
