What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Geranium Maculatum Extract
TonicLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein Extract
Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCapsicum Annuum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Atelocollagen
Skin Conditioning
Desamido Collagen
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Soluble Collagen
Humectant
Collagen
Moisturising
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Procollagen
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Caffeoyl Tripeptide-1
Antioxidant
Sh-Octapeptide-4
Antioxidant
Sh-Pentapeptide-19
Skin Conditioning
Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Antioxidant
Sh-Decapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Caffeoyl Sh-Octapeptide-4
Antioxidant
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantAspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Propolis Wax
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Benzyl Glycol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingTrideceth-10
CleansingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Heptyl Undecylenate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Saccharomyces/Viscum Album Ferment Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Saccharomyces/Imperata Cylindrica Root Ferment Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Saccharomyces/Rice Bran Ferment, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Glycine Soja Sterols, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Pyridoxine Hcl, Retinol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Asiaticoside, Ceramide NP, Atelocollagen, Desamido Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Soluble Collagen, Collagen, Collagen Amino Acids, Procollagen, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caffeoyl Tripeptide-1, Sh-Octapeptide-4, Sh-Pentapeptide-19, Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Sh-Decapeptide-9, Caffeoyl Sh-Octapeptide-4, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Gluconolactone, Glutamic Acid, Pantolactone, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Calcium Gluconate, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Serine, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Propolis Wax, Beeswax, Benzyl Glycol, Water, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Tromethamine, Trideceth-10, Adenosine, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polysorbate 20, Raspberry Ketone, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyester-7
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-21
CleansingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Rosa Damascena Extract
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Michelia Alba Leaf Oil
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PEG-8
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polyester-7, Phenoxyethanol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Steareth-21, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Sodium Lactate, PEG-8, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Plumeria Rubra Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidAvena Sativa Kernel Extract is is derived from colloidal oatmeal. Besides being a healthy breakfast, oats have many benefits in skincare too.
This ingredient helps sooth, hydrate, and protect the skin. The starches in colloidal oatmeal are able to bind water, keeping the skin hydrated.
The cellulose and fiber in colloidal oatmeal help reduce inflammation. This can also help the skin feel softer.
Colloidal Oatmeal is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect our skin from free-radical damage.
Oatmeal also contains beneficial compounds:
This ingredient is created by mixing grounded oatmeal and a liquid base.
Learn more about Avena Sativa Kernel ExtractButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilSodium 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
