What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPunica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butoxyethanol
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Camellia Japonica Gamma-Lactone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Simmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Rhizome Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLinalool
Perfuming
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Butoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Japonica Gamma-Lactone, Cetearyl Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Ceramide NP, Asiatic Acid, Curcuma Longa Rhizome Extract, Tocopherol, Melia Azadirachta Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Callus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Glycerin, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Corallina Officinalis, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, C14-22 Alcohols, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Linalool, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Geraniol
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
