What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingPolyethylene
AbrasiveMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantTabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantArginine
MaskingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Collagen Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Octyldodecanol, Triethylhexanoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glucose, Arginine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Citric Acid, CI 77220, Ascorbic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glutathione, Collagen Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSodium Stearate
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingXylitol
HumectantDisteareth-100 Ipdi
Bisabolol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingMentha Arvensis Extract
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingErythritol
HumectantCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningApium Graveolens Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Xylitol, Disteareth-100 Ipdi, Bisabolol, Parfum, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Malachite Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Panthenol, Arginine, Erythritol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Zinc PCA, BHT, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Bioflavonoids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Apium Graveolens Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineArginine is a semi-essential amino acid. This just means our bodies can product a bit on its own, but sometimes needs a little boost from food sources.
It is a part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), or the water-loving molecules in your outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) that keeps everything hydrated and happy.
Here's an interesting thing about Arginine: your skin converts it into urea through the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. Urea is one of the most effective humectants your skin naturally produces.
A clinical study showed applying 2.5% arginine hydrochloride to atopic dermatitis skin showed significant urea levels in the stratum corneum and improved moisture in just four weeks.
Arginine is also a precursor to nitric oxide; nitric oxide improves microcirculation and supports wound healing and collagen synthesis.
One study found that an amino acid complex containing Arginine reduced skin irritation, improved hydration, and accelerated skin repair in clinical / in-vivo studies.
Arginine itself is an amino acid and not a fatty acid, oil, or ester. On its own, it's not a direct food source for Malassezia, or the yeast that causes fungal acne.
Learn more about ArginineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinWater. 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