What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Triisostearin
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCopper PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Panthenol, Glycerin, Triisostearin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Allantoin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Copper PCA, Zinc PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGalactoarabinan
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUndecyl Dimethyl Oxazoline
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Glycerin, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Galactoarabinan, Cetyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Undecyl Dimethyl Oxazoline, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
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
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract comes from the avocado.
Avocados are rich in fatty acids. About 67% of these fatty acids is made up of oleic acid. Palmitic acid and linoleic acid are also present.
Besides fatty acids, avocados also have B vitamins, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima Fruit ExtractPotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateWater. 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
