What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientInulin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingXylitol
Humectant
Glucosyl Ceramide
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCholesterol
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phytic Acid
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDioleoyl Pg-Trimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDistearoyl Glycerophosphocholine
Skin ConditioningDspe
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Chloride
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPhosphatidylserine
Emulsion StabilisingSh-Polypeptide-14
Skin Protecting
Sh-Polypeptide-62
Antioxidant
Sh-Polypeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-66
Antioxidant
Sh-Polypeptide-67
Antioxidant
Sh-Polypeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-58
Emollient
Sh-Oligopeptide-33
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-31
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-6
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil, C12-16 Alcohols, Inulin, Xylitylglucoside, Ectoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Anhydroxylitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Glucosyl Ceramide, Sodium Hydroxide, Cholesterol, Phospholipids, Glucose, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phytic Acid, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dioleoyl Pg-Trimonium Chloride, Distearoyl Glycerophosphocholine, Dspe, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylserine, Sh-Polypeptide-14, Sh-Polypeptide-62, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-10, Sh-Polypeptide-66, Sh-Polypeptide-67, Sh-Polypeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-5, Sh-Polypeptide-58, Sh-Oligopeptide-33, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-31, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-6, Mannitol, Trehalose
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate
Emulsifying
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
N-Capryloyl Lysine
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Carnitine
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pullulan
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Phytic Acid
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Triacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cholesterol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, N-Capryloyl Lysine, Jojoba Esters, Carnitine, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Carnosine, Caffeine, Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol, Pullulan, Caprylyl Methicone, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Silica, Lecithin, Phytic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Triacetin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolGlycerin (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 Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight and mild exfoliating effect.
The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, much like lactic acid.
In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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
