What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningTephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingSpilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningIndigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantUrea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarrageenan
Algin
MaskingPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Caffeine, Plankton Extract, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carrageenan, Algin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77891, Parfum, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclomethicone
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCoco-Glucoside
CleansingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-15
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phytosterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 60, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPentylene 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 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