What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSqualane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Vegetable Oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Olivate, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Olivate, C12-16 Alcohols, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Cellulose Gum, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cholesterol, Fructooligosaccharides, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Carnosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Guaiazulene, Arginine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Oligopeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cera Alba, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglycerin-3, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopherol, Tropolone, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycerinTocopherol 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
