What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantSucrose Palmitate
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Hydrated Silica
AbrasiveTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Propylene Carbonate
SolventInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningCitrus Sinensis Peel Extract
PerfumingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantYeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingElettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
MaskingEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPhytic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPolianthes Tuberosa Extract
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane, Water, Zinc Oxide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Titanium Dioxide, Sucrose Palmitate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrated Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Pentylene Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Bisabolol, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Citrus Sinensis Peel Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Yeast Polysaccharides, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Ectoin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polianthes Tuberosa Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Ceramide NP, Disodium Phosphate, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Methylparaben, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide EOP
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
HumectantXylitol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingAnhydroxylitol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Niacinamide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Xylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Water, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Trideceth-10, Anhydroxylitol, Glucose
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 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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