What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhysalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Daphne Odora Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Saccharide Isomerate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Physalis Angulata Extract, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Daphne Odora Callus Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Dextran
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Harpagophytum Procumbens Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Bacillus Ferment, Sodium Carrageenan, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Maris Sal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
