What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingRosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantRosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Sucrose, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSucrose Polystearate
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentHedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientMimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningRhizobian Gum
Ascorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Caprate
EmollientAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polystearate, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Rhizobian Gum, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprate, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Tocopherol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglycerin-3, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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