What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Amylopectin
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Volcanic Soil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Glucose, Amylopectin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Olive Glycerides
Emulsifying
Xylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlucose
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Coconut Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Olive Glycerides, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glucose, Sodium Gluconate, Coco-Glucoside, Cyclodextrin, Anhydroxylitol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Coconut Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin
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 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 GlycolGlucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent.
Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated.
It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with.
Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface.
Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff.
In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources.
Learn more about GlucoseGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
