What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rosa Extract
AstringentSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caffeine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sucrose, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Coco-Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 14700, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientNonoxynol-9
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycolic Acid, Carbomer, Arginine, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Nonoxynol-9, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phospholipids, PEG-20
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
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 Glycerin
