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
Surfactant
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
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Kaolin
Abrasive
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantStearic Acid
Cleansing
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPlatonia Insignis Seed Butter
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Curcumin
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPei-10
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientArginine
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAroma
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Kaolin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyisobutene, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Platonia Insignis Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Hexylresorcinol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Gluconolactone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Malachite Extract, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Hydrated Silica, Curcumin, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Retinol, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Pei-10, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Arginine, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract, Aroma, Pvp, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 RetinolWater. 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
