What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Xylitol
Humectant
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCopper Sulfate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-3
EmulsifyingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rhamnose
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fructooligosaccharides, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Propanediol, Xylitol, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract, Laureth-3, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Mannitol, Potassium Sorbate, Rhamnose
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Avena Sativa Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAlanyl Glutamine
HumectantUncaria Tomentosa Extract
Skin ConditioningBatyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Avena Sativa Leaf/Stem Extract, Alanyl Glutamine, Uncaria Tomentosa Extract, Batyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethiconol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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 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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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
