What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Propanediol
Solvent
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Panthenol, Retinol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Propanediol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Xanthan Gum, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-21
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Coenzyme A
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Kojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sericin
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Laurate
SurfactantAcrylates/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarnitine
Cleansing
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Esters, Polysorbate 60, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Retinol, Tocopherol, Myristyl Myristate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polyacrylate-21, Boron Nitride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Coenzyme A, Caffeine, Chlorphenesin, Kojic Dipalmitate, Hydrolyzed Sericin, Phospholipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristyl Laurate, Acrylates/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Carnitine, Tromethamine, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
