What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Dihydroxy Methylchromone
Antioxidant
Carrageenan
Sorbitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Bakuchiol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Dihydroxy Methylchromone, Carrageenan, Sorbitol, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arginine, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucose, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate-13
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Octapeptide-45
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Lactoferrin
Skin ConditioningTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Betaine
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Chloride
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Polyacrylate-13, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Octapeptide-45, Hexapeptide-11, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Lactoferrin, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Xylitol, Propanediol, Anhydroxylitol, Phospholipids, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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
