What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOligopeptide-24
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantAmber Powder
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingRhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Oleate
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Polyurethane-79
Carrageenan
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oligopeptide-24, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Amber Powder, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Oleate, Glycine Soja Oil, Allantoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyurethane-79, Carrageenan, Maltodextrin, Cellulose Gum, Silica Silylate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCocoglycerides
EmollientPropanediol
SolventIsododecane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-20
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantOligopeptide-24
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin ConditioningD-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine
Skin ConditioningCopper Heptapeptide-14 Pantothenate
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAlgin
MaskingPichia Ferment Lysate Filtrate
HumectantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingPullulan
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningSodium Oleate
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingUbiquinone
AntioxidantDextran
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Phytate
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativePolyvinyl Alcohol
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Cocoglycerides, Propanediol, Isododecane, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Oligopeptide-20, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Oligopeptide-24, Pentapeptide-4, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, D-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine, Copper Heptapeptide-14 Pantothenate, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Allantoin, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Algin, Pichia Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Oleate, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Ubiquinone, Dextran, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Phytate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Polyvinyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinDisodium 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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinOligopeptide-24 is a peptide.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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
Itâs 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 PropanediolWe don't have a description for Sodium Oleate yet.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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 Water