What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Seed Oil
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCellulose Acetate Butyrate
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tricaprylin
Perfuming
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Squalane, Synthetic Wax, Diisostearyl Malate, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, Mica, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Bakuchiol, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Retinol, Astaxanthin, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tricaprylin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum Extract
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol Alginate
Water, Dimethicone, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Bakuchiol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sorbitan Oleate, Retinol, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Acacia Senegal Gum Extract, Tocopherol, Propylene Glycol Alginate
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolCaprylyl 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 GlycolRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about Retinol
