What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Panthenol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Lactic Acid, Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Arginine
Masking
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Niacinamide, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Diglycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arginine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Alpha-Arbutin, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Polysorbate 80, Glucose, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
