What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C14-22 Alcohols, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Arachidyl Alcohol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Squalane, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitol
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
EmulsifyingBetaine
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Betaine, Bisabolol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Arachidyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, T-Butyl Alcohol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.
Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.
This ingredient is a multitasker:
Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).
Learn more about Arachidyl AlcoholCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCetearyl Ethylhexanoate is derived from cetearyl alcohol and sorbic acid.
It is an emollient and helps hydrate the skin. Emollients form a barrier on the skin to prevent water from escaping.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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