What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCitrus Junos Peel Oil
Astringent
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Melilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Trehalose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Mandelic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Dextrin, Polyglutamic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
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
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium 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
