What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Methylheptyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingTulipa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Atractylodes Macrocephala Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cholecalciferol
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tridecane
Perfuming
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSucrose
Humectant
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Propanediol, Betaine, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Undecane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Tulipa Hybrid Flower Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Atractylodes Macrocephala Root Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cholecalciferol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Lecithin, Tridecane, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sucrose, Zea Mays Starch, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica, Titanium Dioxide
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydrolyzed Verbascum Thapsus Flower
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Meristem Cell Extract
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Rumex Occidentalis Extract
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Water, Panthenol, Phospholipids, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Butylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Verbascum Thapsus Flower, Avena Sativa Meristem Cell Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Rumex Occidentalis Extract, Nonapeptide-1, Dextran, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol
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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenethyl Alcohol is a colorless and aromatic alohol. It is naturally occuring in essential oils.
The scent of this ingredient is floral and often compared to rose.
Like other alcohols, this ingredient helps prevent the growth of bacteria. However, its main purpose is to impact a fragrance.
Learn more about Phenethyl AlcoholPotassium 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 SorbatePropanediol 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 PropanediolThis ingredient is a synthetic, salt form polymer built from acrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, or their simple esters. It works as a binder, film former, and viscosity increasing agent.
Typical concentrations start at around 0.5% but can go up to 25% for film-forming or binding.
The CIR Expert Panel assessed the safety of 126 acrylates copolymers and concluded they are safe in cosmetics at current use levels when formulated to be non-irritating. They also noted the levels present in finished cosmetic products are not considered a safety risk and Genotoxicity testing (Ames tests, chromosomal aberration assays) has come back negative across the board.
Though the raw building blocks (like acrylic acid) can be irritating on their own, cosmetic-grade versions go through purification to keep levels extremely low.
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer is a large molecule that doesn't penetrate skin barrier in any meaningful way.
Learn more about Sodium Acrylates CopolymerThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateSodium 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 Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateWater. 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
