What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCocoglycerides
EmollientPalmitamide Mea
Propylene Glycol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingPolygonatum Multiflorum Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract
PerfumingLecithin
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialP-Anisic Acid
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocoglycerides, Palmitamide Mea, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Polygonatum Multiflorum Rhizome/Root Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract, Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, O-Cymen-5-Ol, P-Anisic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientCocoglycerides
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Cocoglycerides, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Escin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Alternatives
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 TriglycerideCocoglycerides is made from the mono, di and triglycerides of coconut oil. It is an emollient and emulsifer.
Emollients are a type of moisturizer. They create a thin film on top of the skin. This film prevents moisture from escaping, keeping the skin hydrated.
Emulsifiers prevent ingredients from separating. Examples of this include oils and water, which naturally do not mix. Emulsifiers helps elongate the shelf life of a product. They also help the product stay consistent in texture.
Learn more about CocoglyceridesGlycerin (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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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