What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Mel
EmollientCera Alba
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycerin, Mel, Cera Alba, Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Calcium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Seed Extract
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-33
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Polyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Corn Starch Modified, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Triticum Vulgare Seed Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Ceteareth-33, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Phytate, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Limonene
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 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 OilSodium 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
