What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauryl Laurate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Madecassoside, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Pantolactone
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alumina
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mica, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77891
Reviews
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 BenzoateCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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
