What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methylheptylglycerin
HumectantCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Melatonin, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Bisabolol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylheptylglycerin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Rose Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Petrolatum
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTapioca Starch
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Stearamide Amp
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Starch Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium PCA
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Lysine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Petrolatum, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tapioca Starch, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Stearamide Amp, Titanium Dioxide, Starch Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sodium Lactate, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Lysine, Threonine, Arginine, Proline
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 TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 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 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
