What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenyl Triacetate
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acetyl Tyrosine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHaberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingUrea
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Guanidine Hcl
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Tripeptide-10 Citrulline
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 40
Emulsifying
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Panthenyl Triacetate, Ethyl Linoleate, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Tyrosine, Proline, Lecithin, Glycosaminoglycans, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Urea, Glucose, Guanidine Hcl, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Yeast Extract, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Cyclomethicone, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Tripeptide-1, Polysorbate 40, Superoxide Dismutase, Pvp, Panthenol, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Oleyl Erucate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Oleyl Erucate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Coco-Caprylate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Levulinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene
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 TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 Water
