What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-28
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningAminobutyric Acid
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-19
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingApium Graveolens Callus Extract
AntioxidantAnigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningSteareth-20
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Aminobutyric Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Inulin, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Apium Graveolens Callus Extract, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Steareth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTricaprylin
PerfumingCetyl Esters
EmollientCanarium Indicum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantMethylsilanol Carboxymethyl Theophylline Alginate
Skin ConditioningHordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSantalum Album Extract
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningLauryl Lactate
EmollientSteareth-10
EmulsifyingCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningDihydromyricetin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingTripleurospermum Maritimum Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantSteareth-20
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucosamine Hcl
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantPEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Tricaprylin, Cetyl Esters, Canarium Indicum Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Methylsilanol Carboxymethyl Theophylline Alginate, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Yeast Extract, Santalum Album Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Lauryl Lactate, Steareth-10, Ceramide Ng, Dihydromyricetin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Tripleurospermum Maritimum Extract, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Steareth-20, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Pisum Sativum Extract, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Glucosamine Hcl, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Triethanolamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Tribehenin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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, 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".
"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.
This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.
Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:
Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.
A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSteareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Tocopherol 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