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
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
PEG-8
HumectantRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Dihydroxy Methylchromone
Antioxidant
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Copper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Lactose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8, Retinol, Dihydroxy Methylchromone, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitol, Stearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Propyl Gallate, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract
Perfuming
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBisabolol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phytonadione
Lecithin
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Squalane, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dilinoleic Acid/Propanediol Copolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Bakuchiol, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ascorbyl Glucoside, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract, Caffeine, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Bacillus Ferment, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Silica, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phospholipids, Phytonadione, Lecithin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77891, Mica, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, CI 77491
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
The Malassezia yeast feeds on free fatty acids and this ingredient is made up of an aromatic acid and fatty alcohols.
When this ingredient breaks down, it yields benzoic acid (which is antifungal) and fatty alcohols. Neither of these have been found in studies to be a known food source for Malassezia.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
