What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tridecane
Perfuming
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingXylitol
Humectant
Glycogen
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventGlucose
Humectant
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Undecane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tridecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Sorbitol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Xylitylglucoside, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Anhydroxylitol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Propanediol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Xylitol, Glycogen, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Carbonate, Glucose, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingPEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Polyacrylamide
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol 0.1%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
BHA
Antioxidant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Collagen
Moisturising
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningPhloretin
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, BHT, Cyclopentasiloxane, Steareth-21, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Steareth-2, Isohexadecane, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tromethamine, Palmitic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Retinol 0.1%, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycosyl Trehalose, Beta-Glucan, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Laureth-7, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Adenosine, Raffinose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, BHA, Myristic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Collagen, Madecassic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Asiatic Acid, Glutathione, Retinal, Madecassoside, Sodium Phosphate, Ferulic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tetrahydropiperine, Phloretin, Arginine, Parfum
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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropanediol 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
