What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium PCA
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantLauryl Betaine
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Seed Extract
AntioxidantSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingCitrus Depressa Peel Extract
HumectantSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientAscorbyl Dipalmitate
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Sodium Chloride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Lauryl Betaine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Citrus Depressa Peel Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Ascorbyl Dipalmitate, Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Linalool, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantLaureth-23
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingVitis Vinifera Juice Extract
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutamylamidoethyl Imidazole
Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantTetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbic Acid, Laureth-23, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Ferulic Acid, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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