What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTranexamic Acid
AstringentHexyldecanol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment
Skin ProtectingLactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantFructose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantStearic Acid
CleansingCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAnanas 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
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingDiglycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingMethylpropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Diglycerin, Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glucose, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP
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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene 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 GlycolThis 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 TriglycerideChlorella Vulgaris Extract comes from a green microalga. It is hydrating and contains antioxidants.
Studies also show Chlorella Vulgaris may help in rebuilding collagen and elastin. This ingredient is made up of lipids, carbohydrates, and chlorophyll.
Fun fact: This ingredient is commonly used as food additive in Japan.
Learn more about Chlorella Vulgaris ExtractGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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