What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate
Skin ProtectingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosterols, Tropolone, Methyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Carbomer, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCyclomethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyisobutene
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Pullulan
Disodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Cyclomethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Stearyl Alcohol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Fructooligosaccharides, Pullulan, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Ā
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesĀ
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 ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās 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 PropanediolSodium 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
