What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
Humectant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Kojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDecapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Oleate
CleansingPropylene Glycol Alginate
Rice Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, C14-22 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glycine Soja Oil, Carbomer, Mannitol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Kojyl Methylenedioxycinnamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Madecassoside, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Retinol, Trehalose, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, BHT, Acacia Senegal Gum, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Decapeptide-4, Sodium Oleate, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Rice Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Extract
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientCopaifera Officinalis Resin Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Squalene
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentGeraniol
Perfuming
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Copaifera Officinalis Resin Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Beta-Sitosterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Squalene, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Geraniol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
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
Glycerin (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 Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilTocopherol 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
