What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Glucose
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Methicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Glucose, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Raspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Fructose
Humectant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol, Raspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Fructose, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Water, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate
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 TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 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.
Water. 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
