What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSilica Silylate
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Magnesium Sulfate
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Linoleic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, Saccharomyces Ferment, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica Silylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Lauroyl Lysine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSunfloweramide Mea
CleansingIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf, Water, Sunfloweramide Mea, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Propolis Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 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
