What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingGlutathione
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Chinensis Extract
AstringentCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentDimethicone
Emollient
Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Erythritol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Glutathione, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Ceramide NP, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tromethamine, Ceramide Ns, Sodium Hyaluronate, Inositol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Aesculus Chinensis Extract, Ceramide EOP, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Nonapeptide-1, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cyclodextrin, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone, Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone, Adenosine, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Trideceth-10
CleansingCardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycolic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Triethanolamine, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Trideceth-10, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol 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
