What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Arginine
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Phytate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthyl Linoleate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Mandelic Acid, Propanediol, Arginine, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexylresorcinol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Phytate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethyl Linoleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCedrus Atlantica Wood Oil
Perfuming
Succinoglycan
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil
Masking
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningPolylysine
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Mandelic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cedrus Atlantica Wood Oil, Succinoglycan, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Tropolone, Polylysine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 ingredientās 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 GlycerinAnother popular name for this ingredient is Synovea HR. This ingredient is a skin lightener and antioxidant.
Like other skin lighteners, it blocks the process of skin darkening. Specifically, this ingredient blocks tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for darkening skin when exposed to UV.
Hexylresorcinol works well with other ingredients. Studies show this ingredient boosts the effect of niacinamide, various forms of vitamin C, and retinoids.
Many consider this to be a safer alternative to hydroquinone. In fact, this ingredient produces the same results as hydroquinone in lower amounts.
Fun fact: This ingredient can also be found food and medicine for treating skin infections.
Gentle reminder from SkinSort: all skin tones are beautiful!
Learn more about HexylresorcinolMandelic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
Like other AHAs, it helps exfoliate the surface of the skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
Mandelic acid helps with:
Due to it having a larger molecular size than glycolic acid, mandelic acid is able to penetrate the skin more slowly and evenly. This makes it gentler and less irritating, making it a great option for sensitive or beginner skin.
Despite being milder, mandelic acid is still an effective exfoliant that improves skin texture and tone over time.
What makes mandelic acid stand out from other AHAs? It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
These traits make it a great option for acne-prone or problem skin by reducing active breakouts and fading post-acne marks. Studies show that mandelic acid (especially when combined with salicylic acid) can significantly reduce pimples and hyperpigmentation while causing fewer side effects than stronger acids.
Mandelic acid is effective in concentrations of 5% and up with an ideal pH range of 3-4 for at-home use.
Like other AHAs, itās important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your newly exfoliated skin.
However, unlike glycolic acid, mandelic acid is light-sensitive. Be sure your mandelic acid is packaged in opaque containers to ensure it stays stable and effective.
In short, mandelic acid is a gentle yet powerful AHA that exfoliates, brightens, and helps clarify skin while keeping irritation low. Its antibacterial action makes it especially beneficial for those with acne-prone, sensitive, or uneven skin, offering smoother, clearer, and more even-toned results over time.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Mandelic AcidPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Water. 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
