What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysilicone-11
Silica
AbrasivePentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
EmollientAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSalicylic Acid
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Hydroxide, Polysilicone-11, Silica, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Poloxamer 338, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Laureth-7, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Salicylic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantErythritol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Peel Extract
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrolyzed Carrot Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentMadecassoside
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantProtease
ExfoliatingTranexamic Acid
AstringentGlutathione
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Betaine, Erythritol, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Gluconolactone, Pyrus Malus Peel Extract, Panthenol, Carnosine, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Carrot Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclodextrin, Madecassoside, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Protease, Tranexamic Acid, Glutathione, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Carotene, Ferulic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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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 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPentylene 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 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 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