What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantC15-19 Alkane
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantParfum
MaskingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingWater, Ascorbyl Glucoside, C15-19 Alkane, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Coumarin, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Eugenol
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV AbsorberHomosalate 5%
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV AbsorberOctocrylene 7.2%
UV AbsorberWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveDimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSteareth-100
Gel FormingPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantPEG-32
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPapain
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7.2%, Water, Glycerin, Silica, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-100, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, PEG-32, Palmitic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Papain, Myristic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Ceramide AP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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 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