What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract 42.75%
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantMorinda Citrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Branch/Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cyclohexasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentGlucose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract 42.75%, Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Morinda Citrifolia Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Branch/Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dextrin, Glucose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone
Water
Skin ConditioningSedum Sarmentosum Extract
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingGlucose
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventBenzyl Glycol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Sedum Sarmentosum Extract, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Phytosterols, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP, Arginine, Phospholipids, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tromethamine, Glucose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sorbitan Olivate, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Maltodextrin, Carbomer
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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