What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Trioctyldodecyl Citrate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Polyester-7, Mica, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Squalane, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Magnesium Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Trihydroxystearin, Polyglycerin-6, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C13-15 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingStearoyl Inulin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Oxide
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearoyl Inulin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Oxide, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateCI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate isn't fungal acne safe.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
