What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycine Soja Oil, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Panthenol, Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningPotassium Lactate
BufferingCellulose
Absorbent
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C14-22 Alcohols, Fructooligosaccharides, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinal, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Potassium Lactate, Cellulose, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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 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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilRetinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolSodium 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
