What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C15-23 Alkane
SolventDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
C13-14 Alkane
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, C15-23 Alkane, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Allantoin, C13-14 Alkane, Lecithin, Propanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Acetyl Glutamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide NP, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Carbomer, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Tocopherol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Glutathione, Ceramide EOP
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lauryl/Myristyl Benzoate
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Deinococcus Ferment Extract Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPavlova Lutheri Extract
Skin ConditioningOrobanche Rapum Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract
Skin ConditioningSpilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningTrifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Lecithin
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coconut Alkanes, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauryl/Myristyl Benzoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ferulic Acid, Retinol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactic Acid, Deinococcus Ferment Extract Filtrate, Pavlova Lutheri Extract, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Niacinamide, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Pentylene Glycol, Dextran, Phenoxyethanol
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
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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPropanediol 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 PropanediolSodium 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
