What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol Cocoate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylcellulose
Helianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Isostearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Squalane, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citric Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylcellulose, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPassiflora Incarnata Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSilybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPorphyra Umbilicalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingNylon-12
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDipropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Nylon-12, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, CI 42090
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 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol 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