What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutathione
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Superoxide Dismutase, Lactobionic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutathione, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mandelic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Linolenic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Steareth-100
Gel FormingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Triacetin
AntimicrobialSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Sodium Lactate, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Lactic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ubiquinone, Superoxide Dismutase, Retinol, Glycine Soja Protein, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Steareth-100, Cetearyl Glucoside, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Urea, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Trehalose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polyquaternium-51, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Triacetin, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Benzoate, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
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 or alcohol, 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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium 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 HyaluronateSuperoxide Dismutase is found in all living cells. This ingredient is AKA as 'SOD'.
SOD is a strong antioxidant. It protects living cells against oxidative damage by breaking down radical molecules into regular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules that may damage your skin's DNA. This may help with the signs of aging. Due to its antioxidant property, it is used to help treat chronic inflammation.
In cosmetics, SOD is usually obtained from marine phytoplankton, bovine liver, horseradish, cantaloupe, and certain bacteria.
The three major families of SOD include: Copper/Zinc, Iron/Manganese, and Nickel.
When eating SOD-rich foods, our bodies break it down into amino acids before absorption. Foods that contain SOD include: melons, citrus, spinach, broccoli, kale, almonds, sunflower seeds, and blue-green algae.
Learn more about Superoxide DismutaseWater. 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
