What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDiatomaceous Earth
AbrasiveCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingPropanediol
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeC15-19 Alkane
SolventIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingIlex Guayusa Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Papain
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-6
HumectantZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingPassiflora Edulis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCurcuma Longa Root Powder
Skin ConditioningHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Diatomaceous Earth, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, C15-19 Alkane, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Ilex Guayusa Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bromelain, Sodium Phytate, Papain, Polyglycerin-6, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Passiflora Edulis Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Curcuma Longa Root Powder, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Glycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningSucrose Stearate
EmollientPerlite
AbsorbentHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Sucrose Stearate, Perlite, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Caffeine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum