What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingRubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Cleansing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCollagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Succinoglycan
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Collagen Amino Acids, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Succinoglycan, Myristyl Glucoside, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglyceridePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
