What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
EmollientAllyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSilica Silylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingArgilla
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingMyristic Acid
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingGlaucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingTetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Myristyl Myristate, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica Silylate, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Palmitic Acid, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Coco-Glucoside, Argilla, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, BHT, Sodium Citrate, Myristic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Glaucine, Citric Acid, Linalool, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Magnesium Chloride, Tocopherol, Propyl Gallate, Biotin, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBis-Stearyl Dimethicone
EmollientMyristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningArctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPentapeptide-76 Amide
Butylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-20
CleansingSorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice
Skin ConditioningSclareolide
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyisobutene
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrated Silica
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Myristyl Nicotinate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Adenosine, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Glycine Soja Oil, Pentapeptide-76 Amide, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-20, Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice, Sclareolide, Pentylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyisobutene, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Hydrated Silica, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pullulan, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopherol, PEG-40 Stearate, Parfum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Limonene
Reviews
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 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