What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Steareth-21
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Vinyldimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Steareth-21, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid
Honey
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Dibehenate
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Honey, Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Tapioca Starch, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Behenate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Aminomethyl Propanol, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate
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 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTocopherol 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 Water
