What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventDiglycerin
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Undecane
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Tridecane
Perfuming
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Pullulan
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Lauryl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantDiamond Powder
Abrasive
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Water, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Diglycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Propanediol, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Undecane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Methicone, Tridecane, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Fructooligosaccharides, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Mica, Xanthan Gum, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pullulan, CI 77891, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Lauryl Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, CI 75470, Diamond Powder, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tocopherol, Tin Oxide, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phosphatidylcholine, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine, Alanine, Proline, Threonine
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
Humectant
PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Agar
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glutathione
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Zea Mays Starch, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Mannitol, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Propanediol, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Sodium Metaphosphate, Polyquaternium-51, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Agar, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Glutathione, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract
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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol 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
