What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventXylitol
HumectantZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCopper Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialVitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-3
EmulsifyingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRhamnose
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
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientUrea
BufferingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingSodium PCA
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingSodium Lactate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Urea, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Squalane, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Phytosphingosine, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Lactate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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