What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract 13.5%
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glutathione
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Disodium EDTA
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Glucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Water, Centella Asiatica Extract 13.5%, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Niacinamide, Glutathione, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Beta-Glucan, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cholesterol, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Inulin, Cellulose, Glucose, Fructose, Polyglucuronic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Arginine
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tetradecyloctadecyl Hexyldecanoate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSoluble Collagen
Humectant
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-4-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Beheneth-30
CleansingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Phosphate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Ascorbic Acid, Tetradecyloctadecyl Hexyldecanoate, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Malic Acid, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Soluble Collagen, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beheneth-30, Sodium Metaphosphate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Parfum
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 TriglycerideDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 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 StearateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
