What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Trioctyldodecyl Citrate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantBisabolol
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Dextran
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Synthetic Beeswax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Bisabolol, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Dextran, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Undecane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-20 Octadecabehenate/Laurate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingMagnesium Sulfate
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tridecane
Perfuming
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Cera Microcristallina, Magnesium Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Undecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-20 Octadecabehenate/Laurate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Magnesium Sulfate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mannitol, Phosphatidylcholine, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Copper Tripeptide-1, Ferulic Acid, Gold, Tocopherol, Tridecane, Asiaticoside, Propylene Carbonate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Cetyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, P-Anisic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 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.
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate is a plant-derived emulsifier made by combining glycerin and ricinoleic acid.
It works well for giving buttery lip balms and low-viscosity water-in-oil emulsions a non-greasy and pleasant skin feel.
Typical concentrations range from 0.1-3%.
This ingredient is mild and non-irritating in nature.
Because it is derived from ricinoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
