What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingXylitylglucoside
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPalmitic Acid
EmollientAnhydroxylitol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXylitol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingTephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSilanetriol
BHT
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHA
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C12-16 Alcohols, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Palmitic Acid, Anhydroxylitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Methylpropanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xylitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Citric Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Disodium EDTA, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Phosphate, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, BHA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citronellol, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Retinoate
Skin ConditioningTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCanola Oil
EmollientLecithin
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glycerin, Squalane, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Retinoate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Ubiquinone, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Canola Oil, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauroyl Lysine, Tetrahydropiperine, Polyglycerin-3, Lactic Acid, Parfum
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 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 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 OilLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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