What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientAcetyl Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhytonadione
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingAlgin
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningCellulose
AbsorbentSodium Phytate
Escin
TonicLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyisobutene
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Acetyl Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Stearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phytonadione, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phospholipids, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Algin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Cellulose, Sodium Phytate, Escin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Panthenol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyisobutene, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Mica, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantOleic Acid
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingEthyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingSodium Phytate
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Lactic Acid
BufferingTromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Oleic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Menthyl Lactate, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Sodium Phytate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol
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 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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol 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