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 ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Mel
EmollientAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Cellulose
Absorbent
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Royal Jelly
Fructose
Humectant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Zerumbet Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Malva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mel, Alcohol, Cellulose, Arachidyl Alcohol, Royal Jelly, Fructose, C10-18 Triglycerides, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Behenyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Arachidyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Zingiber Zerumbet Extract, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Tin Oxide, Potassium Sorbate, Caramel, 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.
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
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 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 Water
