What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingPolyethylene
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Polycaprolactone
StabilisingTerminalia Arjuna Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Hexapeptide-2 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Psoralea Corylifolia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingTocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Magnesium Silicate
Squalane, Diisostearyl Malate, Ceresin, Polyethylene, Mica, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Synthetic Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Retinol, Oleic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Polycaprolactone, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Ubiquinone, Astaxanthin, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Ceramide NP, Biotinoyl Hexapeptide-2 Amide, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Psoralea Corylifolia Seed Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Water
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceteareth-33
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, BHT, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-33, Disodium EDTA, Retinal, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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
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 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 Water
