What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Isopropyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyisobutene
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Arachidonate
Emollient
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coptis Japonica Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Polysorbate 20, Adenosine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Beta-Glucan, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phosphatidylcholine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Lysine, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, Proline
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
Butylene 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
