What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualene
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventPolypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-10
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Retinol 0.3%
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Lysine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Arginine 0.2%
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Threonine
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Squalene, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Polypeptide-1, Panthenol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-10, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Retinol 0.3%, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Lysine, Histidine, Arginine 0.2%, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Phytosphingosine, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Dimethiconol, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cholesterol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-400, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Resveratrol, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyacrylamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Retinal, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Laureth-7, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Silica, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronatePhenoxyethanol 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 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
