What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/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
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-32
Antiseborrhoeic
Oligopeptide-29
Antioxidant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Bisabolol, Water, Tocopherol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oligopeptide-32, Oligopeptide-29, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AdenosineAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 LecithinWe don't have a description for Hydrolyzed Elastin yet.
Microcrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum through a de-oiling process, then highly refined and purified before use in cosmetics.
In skincare formulations, it is used to improve texture and create a smooth, even consistency. It also helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating.
Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Persea Gratissima Oil is also known as avocado oil.
Avocado Oil has antioxidant properties. It is mostly made up of the glycerides of fatty acids. About 67% of these fatty acids is made up of oleic acid. Palmitic acid and linoleic acid are also present.
These fatty acids help hydrate and soften the skin. It may increase collagen content in the skin. Collagen helps keep your skin plump and firm. This ingredient helps reduce inflammation and has not shown to clog pores.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe due to its high fatty acid content.
Avocados also have B vitamins, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilThis ingredient is a form of glycerin with emulsifying and emollient properties.
As an emulsifier, this ingredient helps keep products together while adding a thick texture. The manufacturer states this ingredient has emollient properties. Emollients help keep the skin hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate is created by reacting diglycerin and isostearic acid. Due to the isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-2 TriisostearateWater. 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
