What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Haematococcus Pluvialis Oil
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Triethanolamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Squalane, Allantoin, Haematococcus Pluvialis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Astaxanthin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Jasminum Officinale Flower Water
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Flower, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Water, Panthenol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinThis 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 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.
Tocopherol 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
