What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Shea Butter Glycerides
Emulsifying
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Shea Butter Glycerides, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Astaxanthin, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sucrose Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Persea Gratissima Oil, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Bentonite, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
