What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oleosomes
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingZanthoxylum Bungeanum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oleosomes, Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Zea Mays Oil, Oleyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Diisopropyl Adipate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Sulfite, BHT, Beta-Carotene, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Citral, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Retinol 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 RetinolTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
