What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Kernel Extract
MoisturisingLindera Strychnifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Extract
EmollientCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Hexylresorcinol, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract, Prunus Persica Kernel Extract, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cyperus Rotundus Root Extract, Nonapeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Dextrin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate-13, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beheneth-20
EmulsifyingDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytic Acid
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Squalane, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Behenic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Beheneth-20, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ferulic Acid, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Lecithin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Lysolecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, Xanthan Gum, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Phytic Acid, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492
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
We don't have a description for Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract yet.
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
