What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBakuchiol
AntimicrobialPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentStearic Acid
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRetinol 0.1%
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantCollagen
MoisturisingMyristic Acid
CleansingBHA
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Madecassoside
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Peptide
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantSucrose Distearate
EmollientAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Bakuchiol, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Retinol 0.1%, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Tromethamine, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Cetyl Alcohol, BHT, Collagen, Myristic Acid, BHA, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ceramide NP, Saccharomyces Ferment, Retinal, Asiaticoside, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Madecassoside, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja Peptide, Resveratrol, Sucrose Distearate, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningC18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentFarnesol
PerfumingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
EmollientSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Diisopropyl Adipate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Colloidal Oatmeal, Farnesol, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phytosphingosine, Retinol, Silica Silylate, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil is a lightweight oil from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree. In cosmetics, it's an emollient that forms a light film to slow water loss and soften skin.
Its fatty acid composition is dominated by oleic acid (70-78%), with smaller amounts of behenic, palmitic, and stearic acids (this profile is actually pretty similar to olive oil).
Notably, this ingredient is oxidatively stable for an oil and resists going rancid as fast as other oils.
A small, in vivo study on 32 participants found a cream with this ingredient increased skin hydration with no reported skin irritation. It also found the tocopherol content gave it some antioxidant activity as well.
One thing to flag for fungal acne:
Because this oil is so high in oleic acid, Malassezia can use it as a food source and this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
For everyone else, this ingredient is well-tolerated and nourishing with a good safety track record.
Learn more about Moringa Oleifera Seed OilPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (aka Pal-GHK) is a synthetic signal peptide made of three amino acids attached to palmitic acid.
That fatty acid attachment is the key: it boosts the peptide's ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This puts it closer to the dermal cells where it can actually make a difference.
Once there, it acts as a matrikine, a signaling peptide that prompts fibroblasts to produce more collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
In vitro studies show it can boost collagen production in skin cells even when UV-damaged skin samples were treated with it at a tiny concentration (it almost fully restored dermal collagen at 5ppm). It achieved this at 100x lower concentration than retinoic acid, which needed 500 ppm to do the same thing.
Human clinical data is promising, but modest:
A study of 23 female volunteers found a small but statistically significant increase (~4%) in skin thickness after treatment at 4 ppm.
A separate small trial of 15 women showed statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness after applying it twice daily for four weeks.
You'll likely see Pal-GHK paired with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as part of the Matrixyl 3000 complex.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
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 RetinolTocopheryl 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 Acetate