What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Phenyl Trimethicone, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Ether, Vinyldimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Fructooligosaccharides, Adenosine, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Cholesterol, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Mentha Viridis Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dextrin, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
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 TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolTranexamic Acid (TXA) is a synthetic lysine derivative that is becoming one of the most exciting brightening ingredients in skincare.
Originally used in medicine as an anti-hemorrhagic agent, its skin brightening potential was discovered by accident; patients taking it orally started noticing their melasma was fading.
Unlike most brighteners that target tyrosinase (the enzyme that synthesizes melanin), TXA works further upstream. It basically blocks your cells from receiving the signal to produce pigment.
This makes it one of the rare actives that works on three pathways at once:
This makes it effective for treating melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and sun-induced dark spots.
The most effective cosmetic concentration sits between 2-5% and going higher doesn't boost results.
Side effects are generally mild; occasional irritation, flaking, or dryness have been reported at the start of use. Overall, this ingredient is pretty well tolerated, even by sensitive skin types.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it does not cause photosensitivity, so it's safe to use in the AM and PM.
Learn more about Tranexamic AcidWater. 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
