What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingPEG-8
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Dimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSteareth-2
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
BufferingGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Salicylate
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
CleansingParfum
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSarcosine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycolic Acid, PEG-8, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Steareth-21, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Steareth-2, Lactic Acid, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Sodium Salicylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sarcosine, Magnesium Aspartate, Potassium Aspartate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Lysine
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAzelaic Acid
BufferingLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningMannitol
HumectantSalicylic Acid
MaskingXylitol
HumectantAndrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract
AstringentRhamnose
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, C14-22 Alcohols, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Lysine, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Azelaic Acid, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Mannitol, Salicylic Acid, Xylitol, Andrographis Paniculata Leaf Extract, Rhamnose, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Fructooligosaccharides, Tocopherol
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 TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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