What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Maltitol
HumectantSorbitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Maltitol, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, C12-14 Alketh-12, Trehalose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Butylene Glycol, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Bakuchiol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Retinol, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Propolis Extract, Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Octyldodeceth-16, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phytosterols, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Retinol, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.
It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.
Learn more about Glycereth-26Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneRetinol 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 RetinolWater. 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
