What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tricaprylyl Citrate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingUrea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingLecithin
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Dimethicone, Cetyl Phosphate, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Dipeptide-2, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Oleyl Alcohol, Steareth-20, Lecithin, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Hexyldecyl Laurate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantPolygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, PEG-8, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Metabisulfite
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol 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
