What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Octapeptide-45
Skin Conditioning
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantMagnolol
Antioxidant
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Polyisobutene
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyacrylate-13, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-38, Octapeptide-45, Swertia Chirata Extract, Magnolol, Ornithine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ergothioneine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Squalane, Lecithin, Caprylyl Methicone, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polyisobutene, Potassium Sorbate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, P-Anisic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Acetamidoethoxyethanol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Methylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenylpropanol
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Menthyl Lactate, Resveratrol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Diamond Powder, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenylpropanol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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, 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 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 20Water. 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
