What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingShea Butteramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Phytate
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Propanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Phytate, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Isohexadecane, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Stellaria Media Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate
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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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.
Tocopherol 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