What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Erythritol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract
HumectantHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCyclohexane
SolventEthyl Acetate
Perfuming
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Propanediol, Erythritol, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Cyclohexane, Ethyl Acetate, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-27
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide-78
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Octapeptide-24
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Teprenone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Niacinamide, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-27, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Octapeptide-24, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xylitol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Teprenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Tocopherol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide
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 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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 SorbateTocopherol 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
