This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Bifida Ferment Lysate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientGluconolactone
Chelating
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Inulin, Erythritol, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Trehalose, Betaine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Glycosphingolipids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Gluconate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingIron Oxides
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Betaine, Lecithin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Iron Oxides, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCaprylic/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 StearatePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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
