What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment
Skin ProtectingLactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantFructose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tranexamic Acid, Hexyldecanol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Lactococcus Ferment, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Glucose, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Polyglutamate, Fructose, Fructooligosaccharides, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bisabolol, Stearic Acid, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Sodium Phytate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Vinyldimethicone
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Squalane
Emollient
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Leucine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Vinyldimethicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dimethiconol, Carbomer, Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Squalane, Collagen Extract, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Leucine, Lysine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Tocopherol, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
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
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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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 TocopherolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
