What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Cetearyl Olivate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningTotarol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Cetearyl Olivate, Niacinamide, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol Denat., Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Maltodextrin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Fructooligosaccharides, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Syringa Vulgaris Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Totarol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sea Water
HumectantTaurine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Behenate
EmollientArginine
Masking
Tribehenin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycine
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Sulfate
Water, Glycerin, Isododecane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Sucrose Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sea Water, Taurine, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Behenate, Arginine, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Sulfite, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfate
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
