What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Vinyldimethicone
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C12-14 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Gossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caffeine, Betaine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Vinyldimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C12-14 Isoparaffin, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bacopa Monnieri Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ganoderma Lucidum Powder
Rhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Withania Somnifera Root Powder
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Glycerin, Squalane, Steareth-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Steareth-21, Phenoxyethanol, Bacopa Monnieri Extract, Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ganoderma Lucidum Powder, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Withania Somnifera Root Powder, Hydroxyethylcellulose
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
