What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Undecane
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tridecane
Perfuming
Propylene Carbonate
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Isostearate
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cera Microcristallina, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Propanediol, Undecane, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Squalane, Persea Gratissima Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Swertia Chirata Extract, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tridecane, Propylene Carbonate, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Isostearate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sucrose Cocoate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Glyceryl Dilaurate
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Tripeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Urea
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Guanidine Hcl
BufferingDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Tripeptide-10, Citrulline, Tripeptide-1, Lecithin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Urea, Glucose, Guanidine Hcl, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Panthenol, Phospholipids, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Pvp, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin 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 LecithinTocopheryl 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
