What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientIsoeicosane
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Hansenula/Kloeckera/Lactobacillus/Lactococcus/Leuconostoc/Pediococcus/Saccharomyces/Fig/Lemon Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingChitosan
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Diheptyl Succinate, Isoeicosane, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Sodium Phytate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Hansenula/Kloeckera/Lactobacillus/Lactococcus/Leuconostoc/Pediococcus/Saccharomyces/Fig/Lemon Ferment, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Cellulose Gum, Chitosan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lithothamnion Calcareum Powder
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Shell Powder
Abrasive
Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Cocos Nucifera Shell Powder, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Powder, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cetearyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sclerotium Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Polyglutamate, Caramel, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Citral
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 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 Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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
