What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantPullulan
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tribehenin
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Steareth-20
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Pullulan, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tribehenin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Steareth-20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
CI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantShorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSteareth-20
CleansingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Talc
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningCoumarin
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isocetyl Stearate, Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, CI 77891, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, CI 77289, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Steareth-20, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Ubiquinone, Lactic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Talc, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 19140, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Tropolone, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Coumarin, Citral, Potassium Sorbate, Dipeptide-2, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Biotin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDipeptide-2 is a peptide. It can help to reduce the effects of aging.
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 GlycerinHesperidin Methyl Chalcone (HMC) is a modified form of hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid. It has antioxidant properties.
In preclinical research, HMC has been studied for its ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation related to UVB exposure. Outside of cosmetics, HMC has been looked at for its effects on capillary leakage and swelling. This is why you'll often see this ingredient in eye creams.
Overall, HMC is a gentle and supportive ingredient. Further research is needed on the claims that this ingredient can "erase dark circles".
Learn more about Hesperidin Methyl ChalconePalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) is a synthetic peptide. Its main job is to fight what researchers call "inflammaging".
"Inflammaging" is the slow, low-grade chronic inflammation that quietly breaks down collagen as we age.
This ingredient calms down a specific inflammation signal in your skin cells (called IL-6). When left unchecked, this signal triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin.
Clinical testing showed statistically significant improvements in:
Studies also found the more of this ingredient used, the more your skin produces Collagen I, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid.
You'll likely see this ingredient paired with Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in the well-known Matrixyl 3000 complex for enhanced anti-aging effects.
A 3% concentration applied twice daily for two months showed meaningful skin rejuvenation results in clinical panels.
Fungal acne note:
Usually a palmitic acid component can feed Malassezia in unbound form, but here is is covalently bonded to the peptide. This means it is very difficult for Malassezia to access, and therefore very unlikely to cause fungal acne.
Phenoxyethanol 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 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 HyaluronateSteareth-20 is an emulsifier and solubilizer. It is created from stearyl alcohol with ~20 units of ethylene oxide to give it a strong preference for water.
As an emulsifier, it helps oil-in-water emulsions like lotions, creams, and cleansers stay stable. It also solubilizes small amounts of oil-loving ingredients (like fragrance) into water-based formulas.
You'll likely find this ingredient with steareth-2 (it's oil-loving sister) where the two work together to give products a cushiony feel.
Typical use levels sit at around 1-5% and this ingredient has been found to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel.
Learn more about Steareth-20Water. 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
