What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Glycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentRetinol
Skin ConditioningDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium EDTA
Tributyl Citrate
SolventSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberBHT
AntioxidantButeth-3
SolventWater, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Retinol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Panthenol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tributyl Citrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, BHT, Buteth-3
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveCetearyl Olivate
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantMannitol
HumectantPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
BufferingRetinal
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
AbsorbentCI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Cetearyl Olivate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Olivate, Propylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Mannitol, Phosphatidylcholine, Titanium Dioxide, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Citric Acid, Retinal, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tromethamine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Caramel, Dextrin, CI 16255, CI 19140, Caprylyl Glycol
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.
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 preservatives
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 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 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 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