What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Methylpropanediol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Ceteth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Octyldodecanol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Potassium Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 42090, CI 17200, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Glycerin
Humectant
Agave Americana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Althaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingCollagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingWater, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Agave Americana Stem Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopherol, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Collagen Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
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 GlycolThis 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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 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
