What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, BHT, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Levulinic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Gluconolactone, Cellulose, Retinal, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Cyrtopodium Cardiochilum Pseudobulb Extract
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Water, Acetyl Glucosamine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Sodium Lactate, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Cyrtopodium Cardiochilum Pseudobulb Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-10, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-5, Sh-Polypeptide-9
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 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
