What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientBetaphycus Gelatinum Extract
BleachingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Glycerin, Propanediol, Water, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Betaphycus Gelatinum Extract, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Cellulose Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl/Stearoyl (Alanine/Arginine/Asparagine/Aspartic Acid/Glutamic Acid/Glutamine/Glycine/Histidine/Isoleucine/Leucine/Lysine/Phenylalanine/Proline/Serine/Threonine/Tyrosine/Valine)
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Oil
Perfuming
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Potassium Stearate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Sodium Cocoyl/Stearoyl (Alanine/Arginine/Asparagine/Aspartic Acid/Glutamic Acid/Glutamine/Glycine/Histidine/Isoleucine/Leucine/Lysine/Phenylalanine/Proline/Serine/Threonine/Tyrosine/Valine), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Lactate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Potassium Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol 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
