What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingKojic Acid
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialEthyl Linoleate
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialDodecane
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningRibose
HumectantSodium Acetate
BufferingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCellulose
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Kojic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylresorcinol, Ethyl Linoleate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Dodecane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Allantoin, Ribose, Sodium Acetate, Bakuchiol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCedrus Atlantica Wood Oil
PerfumingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingJuniperus Communis Fruit Oil
MaskingCinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientCitrus Reticulata Leaf Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingTropolone
Skin ConditioningPolylysine
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Mandelic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cedrus Atlantica Wood Oil, Succinoglycan, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Tropolone, Polylysine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycerinAnother popular name for this ingredient is Synovea HR. This ingredient is a skin lightener and antioxidant.
Like other skin lighteners, it blocks the process of skin darkening. Specifically, this ingredient blocks tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for darkening skin when exposed to UV.
Hexylresorcinol works well with other ingredients. Studies show this ingredient boosts the effect of niacinamide, various forms of vitamin C, and retinoids.
Many consider this to be a safer alternative to hydroquinone. In fact, this ingredient produces the same results as hydroquinone in lower amounts.
Fun fact: This ingredient can also be found food and medicine for treating skin infections.
Gentle reminder from SkinSort: all skin tones are beautiful!
Learn more about HexylresorcinolPolysorbate 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