What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
CleansingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialFoeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract
EmollientViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientAlgae Extract
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Linoleate
AntioxidantWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientMaleic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingTartaric Acid
BufferingSoluble Collagen
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantStearoxytrimethylsilane
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientLanolin Oil
EmollientLanolin Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantOleic Acid
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isocetyl Stearate, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit Extract, Viola Tricolor Extract, Algae Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Wheat Amino Acids, Sodium PCA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phospholipids, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Maleic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Soluble Collagen, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearyl Alcohol, Lanolin Oil, Lanolin Alcohol, Dimethicone, Histidine Hcl, Superoxide Dismutase, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Diazolidinyl Urea
C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTribehenin
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPlantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVernonia Appendiculata Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate
EmulsifyingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningOrmenis Multicaulis Oil
MaskingSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Punica Granatum Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tribehenin, Ceramide Ng, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Ubiquinone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Vernonia Appendiculata Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate, Retinyl Palmitate, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Water, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Superoxide Dismutase, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Proline, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractGlycerin (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 PanthenolRetinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.
This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.
First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.
This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.
Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.
Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:
Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.
This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.
The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.
While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.
All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.
Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate
Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.
Learn more about Retinyl PalmitateSuperoxide Dismutase is found in all living cells. This ingredient is AKA as 'SOD'.
SOD is a strong antioxidant. It protects living cells against oxidative damage by breaking down radical molecules into regular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules that may damage your skin's DNA. This may help with the signs of aging. Due to its antioxidant property, it is used to help treat chronic inflammation.
In cosmetics, SOD is usually obtained from marine phytoplankton, bovine liver, horseradish, cantaloupe, and certain bacteria.
The three major families of SOD include: Copper/Zinc, Iron/Manganese, and Nickel.
When eating SOD-rich foods, our bodies break it down into amino acids before absorption. Foods that contain SOD include: melons, citrus, spinach, broccoli, kale, almonds, sunflower seeds, and blue-green algae.
Learn more about Superoxide DismutaseTocopheryl 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