What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Citrate/Lactate/Linoleate/Oleate, Glycerin, Retinol, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientArginine
MaskingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTriticum Vulgare/Aestivum Grain Extract
Skin ConditioningCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetyl Phosphate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Arginine, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Triticum Vulgare/Aestivum Grain Extract, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Parfum, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Rosa Damascena Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Xanthophylls, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum