What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentCitrus Clementina Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
MaskingGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Juniperus Virginiana Wood Extract
Perfuming
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningQuartz
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Arginine, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Citrus Clementina Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Juniperus Virginiana Wood Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Quartz, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 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 CarbomerCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
