What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Candelilla Wax Esters
Artemisia Annua Extract
MaskingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Wax, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyethylene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Candelilla Wax Esters, Artemisia Annua Extract, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Water, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Acid
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Juice
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Prunus Persica Gum
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Callus Culture
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Pentapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Hippophae Rhamnoides Acid, Citrus Paradisi Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Prunus Persica Gum, Butylene Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Callus Culture, Phosphatidylcholine, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Tripeptide-1, Resveratrol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-3, CI 19140
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
