What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
Antioxidant
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Lupinus Albus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Pullulan
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Sodium Phytate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glutathione
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Curcumin
Antioxidant
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Phytosphingosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Decyl Oleate, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Glutathione, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Ubiquinone, Curcumin, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Phytosphingosine Phosphate, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Ectoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 80, 1,2-Hexanediol, Laureth-7, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
