This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair day moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil 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
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
C9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Chelating
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingLecithin
Emollient
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Carbomer, C12-16 Alcohols, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Triheptanoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Sodium Surfactin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Lecithin, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Seed Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingRosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingBetaine
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Phytosterols, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Betaine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolipids, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
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.
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 preservatives
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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 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
