What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Nelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Fructose
Humectant
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Tetrasodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Isostearyl Isostearate, Propanediol, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Boron Nitride, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglycerin-3, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Fructose, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Sodium Metabisulfite, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Tetrasodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Water
MaskingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Apium Graveolens Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Lactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Olivate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Asparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Bambusa Textilis Stem Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Bakuchiol, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Water, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Apium Graveolens Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Adenosine, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Glyceryl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phosphoric Acid, Corallina Officinalis Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AdenosineCaprylic/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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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 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 Water
