What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTranexamic Acid
AstringentPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientKojic Dipalmitate
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingLactobionic Acid
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylphthalimide
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningIsopropylphthalimide
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantOctenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSea Salt
AbrasiveWater, Niacinamide, Steareth-2, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tranexamic Acid, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Kojic Dipalmitate, Steareth-20, Lactobionic Acid, Gluconolactone, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Citrate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylphthalimide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Isopropylphthalimide, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Octenidine Hcl, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Carrageenan, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sea Salt
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntioxidantPaeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentCnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEuglena Gracilis Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingArtemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Triethanolamine, Salicylic Acid, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Chlorphenesin, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Cnidium Monnieri Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolic Acid, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Euglena Gracilis Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP
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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene 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