What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningPotassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bisabolol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phosphatidylcholine, Lecithin, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Phaseolus Angularis Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tapioca Starch
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Xylose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Mannitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantXylitol
Humectant
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Tapioca Starch, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Xylose, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Pentylene Glycol, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyglutamate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Mannitol, Rhamnose, Xylitol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Fructooligosaccharides
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
