What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Victoriae Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract
HumectantSantalum Acuminatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Trehalose
Humectant
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Polysorbate 80, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ceramide NP, Inulin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Acacia Victoriae Fruit Extract, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Santalum Acuminatum Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Glyceryl Dioleate, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Trehalose, Triolein, Mica, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Glycine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tocopherol
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
