This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Sodium Hyaluronate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Tocopheryl Acetate to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglyceryl-3 Cetearyl Ether Olivate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Canola Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Octyldodecyl PCA
EmollientBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Lactate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
ChelatingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Cetearyl Ether Olivate, Glycerin, Canola Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Fructooligosaccharides, Octyldodecyl PCA, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Squalene, Hydroxyacetophenone, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Potassium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols
Water
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Heptyl Undecylenate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Distarch Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenylpropanol, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 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 HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
