What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientRetinal
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPolyisobutene
Stearic Acid
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
EmollientBakuchiol
AntimicrobialBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCeteth-3
EmulsifyingCeteth-5
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Phytate
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientLauryl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Retinal, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sorbitan Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, Polyisobutene, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Cholesterol, Bakuchiol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Adenosine, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Oleate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Allantoin, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Retinol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningApricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
EmollientSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningOlivine Extract
Skin ConditioningDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Cellulose
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantRetinal
Skin ConditioningGuanosine
Skin ConditioningUracil
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingC9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeHexadecene
SolventSodium Benzoate
MaskingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Triheptanoin, C13-15 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Carbomer, Faex Extract, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Soy Amino Acids, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Olivine Extract, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Retinal, Guanosine, Uracil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Adenosine Phosphate, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Hexadecene, Sodium Benzoate, T-Butyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinRetinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.
Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure.
All retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.
Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient frequently.
Using the 'ramp up' method, start by using retinol once a week. This gives your skin time to adjust and decrease irritation. Once you feel ready, you can slowly increase the frequency of retinol use.
Using retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
Learn more about RetinalSorbitan Oleate is a PEG-free emulsifier made by esterifying sorbitol with oleic acid.
You'll likely see it paired with Polysorbate 80 to create the right emulsification balance.
Typical use levels in formulas range from 2-10%.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as a cosmetic ingredient.
Since this ingredient is an ester of oleic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Oleic acid is a fatty acid that falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Sorbitan OleateTocopherol 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