What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-8
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methyl Gluceth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-8, Panthenol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Retinol, Phenoxyethanol, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Trideceth-6 Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-23, Cetyl Palmitate, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sorbitan Laurate, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Reviews
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinJasmine flower and leaf has perfuming, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant activity in Jasmine comes from flavonoids - a compound found in many plants. While antioxidants are great - Jasmine flowers also contain coumarin, a known EU allergen.
This ingredient can also help mask unpleasant scents from other ingredients.
Learn more about Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf ExtractPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.
Why is retinol famous?
It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.
Retinol is proven to:
This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).
Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolWater. 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
