What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCorylus Avellana Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Seed Extract
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingMichelia Alba Leaf Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingCoriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientC18-21 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantLysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingWater, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Adenosine, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Salix Alba Leaf Extract, Rose Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C18-21 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine Soja Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lysine, Magnesium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, CI 77491, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Limonene, Eugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOleic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Avocado Oil
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTerminalia Arjuna Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Phytate
Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientAniba Rosodora Wood Extract
MaskingWater, Mica, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Zea Mays Starch, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleic Acid, Hydrogenated Avocado Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, CI 77891, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77491, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Aniba Rosodora Wood Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 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 77491Glycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum