What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthyl Oleate
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientLauryl Laurate
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientPhytic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
CleansingWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientArginine
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingCoco-Betaine
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Ethyl Oleate, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Lauryl Laurate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, C12-16 Alcohols, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Coco-Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caramel, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone/Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride
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 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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