This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Ectoin and Ubiquinone to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCirsium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
ChelatingSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingGlucose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningWater, Squalane, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Saccharide Isomerate, C14-22 Alcohols, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Cirsium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Pentylene Glycol, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Hexapeptide-9
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoconut Alkanes
EmollientSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone
EmollientEctoin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientUbiquinone
AntioxidantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
ChelatingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
AbrasiveCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDextran
Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Ubiquinone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Dextran, Tripeptide-1
Reviews
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 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 GlycolPropanediol 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 Phytate is the sodium salt of Phytic acid, a compound that plants store phosphorus in. It's the plant-derived alternative to ingredients like Disodium EDTA.
In skincare, this ingredient is a chelator that grabs onto trace metal ions like iron and copper that sneak into formulas through water/raw materials.
Those metals speed up oxidation so binding them keeps oils, fragrance, and actives from going off, stops color changes, and helps the preservative system work harder.
Survey data shows usage levels range from 0.0099%-0.5% in leave-on products, 0.025%-0.3% in rinse-off, and up to 0.05% in eye-area products. Suppliers typically recommend a range between 0.05-0.5%.
Learn more about Sodium PhytateWater. 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