What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Panax Ginseng Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPanax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Honey
Humectant
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Behenyl Alcohol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Jojoba Esters, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Arachidyl Glucoside, Linalool, Panax Ginseng Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Chloride, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, Limonene, Honey, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Flower Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract, Retinol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alcohol, Glucose, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingTapioca Starch
Polyglyceryl-3 Rice Branate
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Ribose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Sacra Resin Oil
Emollient
Boswellia Sacra Gum/Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sea Water Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Commiphora Confusa Resin Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Masking
Cylindrotheca Fusiformis Extract
Antioxidant
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Boswellia Neglecta Resin Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientP-Anisic Acid
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Acacia Senegal Gum, Tapioca Starch, Polyglyceryl-3 Rice Branate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum, Levulinic Acid, Ribose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Levulinate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Gluconate, Boswellia Sacra Resin Oil, Boswellia Sacra Gum/Resin Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Citric Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Sea Water Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Commiphora Confusa Resin Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Cylindrotheca Fusiformis Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Boswellia Neglecta Resin Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, P-Anisic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Dextran, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Farnesol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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 Water
