What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Steareth-21
CleansingDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Steareth-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Steareth-21, Dicaprylyl Ether, Silica, Butylene Glycol, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, C14-22 Alcohols, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
