What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyisobutene
Synthetic Wax
AbrasiveCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Glycerin
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingGlucose
HumectantCollagen Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientHordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientRosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantSantalum Album Extract
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Ferment
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium/Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantDiisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecanol, Polyisobutene, Synthetic Wax, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Glucoside, Squalane, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Glucose, Collagen Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Panthenol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Lecithin, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Santalum Album Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Chlorella Ferment, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Pentylene Glycol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Titanium/Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearate
CleansingXylitol
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Oleth-20
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantDicapryl Succinate
EmollientMenthone Glycerin Acetal
RefreshingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
BufferingTin Oxide
AbrasiveSodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Stearate, Xylitol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Oleth-20, Glycerin, Caffeine, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium PCA, Dicapryl Succinate, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Menthyl Lactate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lactate, Tin Oxide, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 42090, CI 19140
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
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 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 Water