What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventTranexamic Acid
AstringentDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Retinol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningErgothioneine
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive1,10-Decanediol
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingGardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlucose
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialSebacic Acid
BufferingPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningAroma
Cholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBHA
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Tranexamic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate-13, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Polyisobutene, Adenosine, Ergothioneine, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide AP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide NP, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Ceramide EOP, Silica, 1,10-Decanediol, Sodium Chloride, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Disodium EDTA, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glucose, Tocopherol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sebacic Acid, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine, Aroma, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, BHA, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, BHT
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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. 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