What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
3-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phytol
Emollient
Isomalt
HumectantTapioca Starch
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, 3-Glyceryl Ascorbate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil, Algin, Tocopherol, Phytol, Isomalt, Tapioca Starch, Maltodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Calcium Dihydrogen Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Silica, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Allantoin, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Lactate, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calcium Dihydrogen Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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.
Propanediol 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 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
