What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Polyacrylate-13
Glycerin
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyisobutene
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Heptyl Undecylenate, Niacinamide, Polyacrylate-13, Glycerin, Retinol, Ubiquinone, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Bisabolol, Ceramide NP, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningBrassica Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Brassica Alcohol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Squalane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysilicone-11, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidThis 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 TriglycerideDisodium 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Retinol 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
