What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentLecithin
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberIsododecane
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydrated Silica
AbrasivePPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingRetinol
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPei-10
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Dicaprylyl Ether, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isododecane, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydrated Silica, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Retinol, Retinal, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Pei-10, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningRetinal
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Squalane, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cholesterol, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Retinal, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA
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
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinRetinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.
Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure.
All retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.
Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient frequently.
Using the 'ramp up' method, start by using retinol once a week. This gives your skin time to adjust and decrease irritation. Once you feel ready, you can slowly increase the frequency of retinol use.
Using retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
Learn more about RetinalSodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water