What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCeteareth-33
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Retinal
Skin ConditioningSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel FormingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-33, Disodium EDTA, Retinal, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Squalane
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXylityl Sesquicaprylate
AntimicrobialAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Squalane, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Levulinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Anhydroxylitol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Anisate, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinSodium 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 Water