What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Passiflora Incarnata Extract
AstringentAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hyaluronic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil
Masking
Helichrysum Italicum Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Myrtus Communis Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Escin
TonicMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-33
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Silica, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower/Stem Extract, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Myrtus Communis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Hyaluronic Acid, Escin, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-33, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Linoleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, 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 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 GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
