What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Sunflowerseedate
Skin ConditioningLysophosphatidic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Tromethamine
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Retinol, Retinyl Sunflowerseedate, Lysophosphatidic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Plankton Extract, Lecithin, Micrococcus Lysate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Linoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Retinol, Phospholipids, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Retinal, Cellulose, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Squalane, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Ceramide NP, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Gluconolactone, Ferulic Acid, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Ubiquinone, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 CarbomerCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinol 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 RetinolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
