This calming serum is formulated around Albatrellus Confluens Extract and Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract to calm redness.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Albatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningXanthophylls
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGeraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Arginine, Glycine Soja Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Inulin, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Xanthophylls, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentRaphanus Sativus Sprout Extract
Antioxidant
Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract
EmollientHericium Erinaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalene
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Beta-Caryophyllene
Masking
Terpineol
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Glycerin, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oryza Sativa Starch, Raphanus Sativus Sprout Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout Extract, Hericium Erinaceum Extract, Anhydroxylitol, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Beta-Caryophyllene, Terpineol, Limonene
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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilLinalool 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 LinaloolPropanediol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
