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 ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Mirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, Glycerin, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorphenesin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 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 ingredientās 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
