What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ethoxydiglycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Propanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenethyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Squalane
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientVitis Rotundifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Diheptyl Succinate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Squalane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Lactobacillus/Arundinaria Gigantea Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Citrate, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Vitis Rotundifolia Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ergothioneine
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 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol 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 PropanediolTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopheryl 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
