What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Silicate
BufferingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sodium Magnesium Fluorosilicate
Abrasive
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCarrageenan
Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Silicate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Magnesium Fluorosilicate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dipeptide-2, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract, Medicago Sativa Seed Extract, Carrageenan, Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Steareth-20, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Carbomer, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Collagen
Moisturising
Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingAlgae Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Creatine
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Maris Aqua
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Benzophenone-5
UV Absorber
Cholesteryl Nonanoate
EmollientCholesteryl Isostearate
EmollientCholesteryl Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tryptophan
MaskingElaeis Guineensis Butter
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Gluconate, Collagen, Tea-Cocoyl Glutamate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Copper Tripeptide-1, Biotin, Caffeine, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide EOP, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Squalane, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Algae Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Propylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Creatine, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Maris Aqua, Panthenol, Polyglutamic Acid, Methionine, Lysine, Leucine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Stearate, Benzophenone-5, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Cholesteryl Isostearate, Cholesteryl Chloride, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Valine, Saccharide Isomerate, Tryptophan, Elaeis Guineensis Butter, Sorbitol, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenyl Trimethicone, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopheryl 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 Water
