What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Methyl 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
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Urea
Buffering
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-20
CleansingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAmino Acids
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glucose
Humectant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Steareth-20, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Amino Acids, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Xylitylglucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Phosphate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Anhydroxylitol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Xylitol, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Glucose
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 TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol
