What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lactose
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Lactose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-8, Stearyl Alcohol, Tromethamine, Panthenol, Carbomer, Isopropyl Myristate, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Propylparaben, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Copper Gluconate
Rosa Canina Callus Lysate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Rosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Phaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Candelilla Cera
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingLonicera Japonica Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingSaponaria Pumila Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPentapeptide-48
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Callus Lysate, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hyaluronic Acid, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Phaseolus Radiatus Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Candelilla Cera, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Lonicera Japonica Callus Extract, Saponaria Pumila Callus Culture Extract, Pentapeptide-48, Retinol, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 StearateRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about Retinol
