What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPachyrhizus Erosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Pachyrhizus Erosus Root Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ceramide NP, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, PEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentHydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Rhododendron Brachycarpum Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicButylene Glycol
HumectantMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Zinc Oxide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Sodium Phytate, Rhododendron Brachycarpum Extract, Biotin, Butylene Glycol, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 GlycerinSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol 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