What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentGarcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingRetinol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCinchona Calisaya Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientGlyceryl Arachidonate
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSucrose
HumectantThiamine Hcl
MaskingFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Filtrate, Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Betaine, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Garcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Polyglutamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Malt Extract, Retinol, Panthenol, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cinchona Calisaya Bark Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Retinyl Palmitate, Biotin, Sucrose, Thiamine Hcl, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantIngredients 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 PanthenolRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolWater. 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