What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Cholesteryl Isostearate
EmollientSodium Polyglutamate
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingPoria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentHydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Paraffin
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
2-Methyl-3-(1,7,7-Trimethylbicyclohept-2-Yloxy)-Propanol
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-8 Dimethicone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Dimethicone, Copper Tripeptide-1, Dipeptide-2, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Cholesterol, Cholesteryl Isostearate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ceteareth-20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Simethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Triethanolamine, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Hydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Paraffin, Phenoxyethanol, 2-Methyl-3-(1,7,7-Trimethylbicyclohept-2-Yloxy)-Propanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Silicate
BufferingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlumina
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ammonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Silicate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, Caprylyl Glycol, Cellulose Gum, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Alumina, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Lecithin, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Retinol, Polysorbate 20
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 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
