What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Molasses Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingMyrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces Lysate Extract
Humectant
Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Lythrum Salicaria Extract
AstringentLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Molasses Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Lythrum Salicaria Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, CI 60725, CI 61565
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 GlycerinOlive tree leaves contain more antioxidants than olive fruit.
This is due to its rich flavonoid and polyphenol content. However, the antioxidant content varies depending on plant variety, harvesting method, leaf maturity, and extraction method.
This ingredient also has a natural fragrance. Read more about fragrance in cosmetics here.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Leaf ExtractPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
