What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract
HumectantDavidsonia Pruriens Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bakuchiol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glycerin, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Cetyl Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Parfum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract, Davidsonia Pruriens Fruit Extract, Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Methyl Trimethicone, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Borago Officinalis Extract, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Bakuchiol, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Dna
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.
You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:
1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do
Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).
The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.
Systematic reviews also back this up:
Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.
The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.
This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.
Learn more about BakuchiolThis 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 ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās 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 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 Water
