What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate-13
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polyisobutene
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
1,10-Decanediol
SolventSodium Chloride
MaskingGardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientGlucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Sebacic Acid
BufferingPunica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Aroma
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBHA
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, 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.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolRetinol 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 RetinolTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
