What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cucumis Sativus Juice
EmollientCoenzyme A
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhosphoric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cucumis Sativus Juice, Coenzyme A, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Saccharide Isomerate, PEG-8, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 20, Biotin, Sodium Benzoate, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Sulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Hull Extract
MoisturisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seedcake Extract
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIpomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXylitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAlcohol
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Hull Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Lysate, Coffea Arabica Seedcake Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Alternatives
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
Glycerin (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 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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