What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Genistein
Skin ConditioningQuercetin
Antioxidant
Silybin
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Acetyl Zingerone, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Ferulic Acid, Resveratrol, Genistein, Quercetin, Silybin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-6 Methyl Ether
SolventHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Disodium EDTA
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Acetyl Zingerone, Arachidyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-6 Methyl Ether, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Dimethiconol, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Zingerone is an antioxidant from ginger. It is able to fight many types of free-radical damage.
Acetyl Zingerone is stable in sun and is able to disrupt UV damaging processes on the skin.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
