What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCollagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Poloxamer 235
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Antioxidant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Collagen
Moisturising
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
BHA
Antioxidant
Soluble Collagen Crosspolymer
Emollient
Rosin Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Soy Hydrolyzed Collagen
Potassium Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Bakuchiol, Caffeine, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Collagen Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Poloxamer 235, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Ascorbate, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Collagen Amino Acids, Collagen, Soluble Collagen, BHT, Disodium EDTA, BHA, Soluble Collagen Crosspolymer, Rosin Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Soy Hydrolyzed Collagen, Potassium Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Triethanolamine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Retinol, Carbomer, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinol 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
