What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientRetinol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Cellulose
AbsorbentC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Retinol, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Cellulose, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-35 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientSecale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveBoswellia Serrata Gum
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningTripleurospermum Maritimum Extract
Skin ProtectingDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSucrose Palmitate
EmollientPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingBHA
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeWater, Triethylhexanoin, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Silica, Retinyl Palmitate, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Tripleurospermum Maritimum Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Citric Acid, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Tocopherol, Sucrose Palmitate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, T-Butyl Alcohol, BHA, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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.
Sodium 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 Water