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
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 ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentSqualane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyisobutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnolia Champaca Flower Oil
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract
Perfuming
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
BHA
Antioxidant
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Cyclodextrin, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Tocopherol, Retinol, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Tripeptide-1, Pentapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Champaca Flower Oil, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, BHT, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, BHA, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Retinol 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
