What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Ethyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Palmitate
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Ethyl Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Ethyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Ethyl Linoleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Ethyl Palmitate, Linalool, Adenosine, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentTapioca Starch
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Phenoxyethanol, Punica Granatum Extract, Tapioca Starch, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Menthoxypropanediol, Sodium Gluconate, Adenosine, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
This is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTapioca starch is a thickening agent and is made from the cassava root, also known as yucca.
According to a manufacturer, it is an excellent talc replacement.
It is gluten-free.
Learn more about Tapioca StarchTocopherol (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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
