What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingRetinal
Skin ConditioningOleyl Adapalenate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
HumectantPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyapatite
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Glyceryl Ether
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingNaringin
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Retinal, Oleyl Adapalenate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyapatite, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Glyceryl Ether, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Hydroxystearic Acid, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Oleate, Naringin, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingRetinal
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingOzothamnus Diosmifolius Extract
Disodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cholesterol, Tromethamine, Retinal, Parfum, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ozothamnus Diosmifolius Extract, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.
Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure.
All retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.
Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient frequently.
Using the 'ramp up' method, start by using retinol once a week. This gives your skin time to adjust and decrease irritation. Once you feel ready, you can slowly increase the frequency of retinol use.
Using retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
Learn more about RetinalTocopherol 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 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