What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantCoco-Caprylate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientUndecane
EmollientDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientSoluble Collagen
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Undecane, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Algae Extract, Arachidyl Alcohol, Soluble Collagen, Glyceryl Stearate, Tridecane, Behenyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Carnosine, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
EmollientAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Pulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Propanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides, Aspergillus Ferment, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Gluconate, Sorbitan Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 TriglyceridePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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