What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantAvena Sativa Bran Extract
AbrasiveGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Linoleate
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Levulinic Acid
PerfumingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingGlycerin, Water, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Pentylene Glycol, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Propanediol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phospholipids, Retinyl Linoleate, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Gluconolactone, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCorn Starch Modified
AbsorbentIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Corn Starch Modified, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Cichorium Intybus Root 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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