What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Squalane
Emollient
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningShea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningEthyl Oleate
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Canola Oil
Emollient
Ethyl Linolenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Ethyl Palmitate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningEthyl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningMethyl Nicotinate
SoothingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Synthetic Beeswax, Synthetic Wax, Squalane, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethyl Linoleate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Swertia Chirata Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ethyl Oleate, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Canola Oil, Ethyl Linolenate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trihydroxystearin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethyl Palmitate, Water, Ethyl Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Sorbitan Oleate, Glucomannan, Methyl Nicotinate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientDimer Dilinoleyl Diisostearate
EmollientPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Vanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Diisostearate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Menthyl Lactate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Propolis Extract, 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.
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 TriglycerideHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl 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
