What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantErythritol
HumectantChondrus Crispus
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Sodium PCA, Erythritol, Chondrus Crispus, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Citrate, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Niacinamide, Pisum Sativum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventGlycol Distearate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSucrose
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeTriethyl Citrate
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBenzoic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Azelaic Acid, Propanediol, Glycol Distearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Silica, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sucrose, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethyl Citrate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Benzoic Acid, Parfum
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 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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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