What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Stearate
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTropolone
Skin ConditioningVanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Bakuchiol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Calcium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lactic Acid, Mica, Palmitic Acid, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, CI 77891, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tropolone, Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Sieboldii Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Liliflora Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBenincasa Cerifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Kernel Extract
MoisturisingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMalt Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycerin-3, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Magnolia Sieboldii Extract, Magnolia Liliflora Flower Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Benincasa Cerifera Seed Extract, Prunus Persica Kernel Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Malt Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Bakuchiol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Laurate, Polyquaternium-51, Beta-Glucan, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolCaprylic/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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
