What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantArbutin
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Calcium Pantothenate
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Silica
Abrasive
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Bisabolol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tromethamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide NP, Riboflavin, Arbutin, Thiamine Hcl, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Calcium Pantothenate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Silica
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantSodium PCA
Humectant
Anogeissus Leiocarpa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Phytic Acid
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Propanediol, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Silica, Parfum, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Sodium PCA, Anogeissus Leiocarpa Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene, Bisabolol, Adenosine, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sclerotium Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Zea Mays Starch, Phytic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Sodium Citrate, Lauryl Glucoside, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololThis 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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium 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 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
