What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantAlbizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingDarutoside
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEuglena Gracilis Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCycnoches Cooperi Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRoyal Jelly Powder
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Darutoside, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Betaine, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Euglena Gracilis Extract, Tocopherol, Cycnoches Cooperi Flower/Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Royal Jelly Powder, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientTetrapeptide-5
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantPullulan
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl/Methoxyethyl Acrylate Copolymer
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Methylparaben
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Tetrapeptide-5, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lactobacillus, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Squalane, Diglycerin, Pullulan, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Hydroxyethyl/Methoxyethyl Acrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecanePolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum