What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecyl Myristate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium PCA
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingLecithin
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingLauryl Laurate
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingStearyl Behenate
EmollientUndecane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningTridecane
PerfumingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientPlatonia Insignis Seed Butter
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearyl Behenate, Undecane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Tridecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Myristyl Myristate, Platonia Insignis Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Tocopherol, Pisum Sativum Extract, Lauroyl Lysine, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Sulfate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Alternatives
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopherol 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