What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Alcohol Denat., Tocopheryl Acetate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingKalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingArbutus Unedo Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Crocus Sativus Flower Extract
MaskingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Arbutus Unedo Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, CI 42090, CI 61565
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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 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
