What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Triisononanoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cholesteryl Oleyl Carbonate
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cholesteryl Chloride
Skin ConditioningCholesteryl Nonanoate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingAcetyl Tributyl Citrate
Masking
Phenyl T-Butylnitrone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Triisononanoin, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Carbomer, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesteryl Oleyl Carbonate, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cholesteryl Chloride, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Phytic Acid, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCedrus Atlantica Wood Oil
Perfuming
Succinoglycan
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil
Masking
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningPolylysine
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Mandelic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Niacinamide, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cedrus Atlantica Wood Oil, Succinoglycan, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Tropolone, Polylysine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate
Reviews
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 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 GlycolCitric 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 GlycerinThis Honeysuckle flower extract comes from the Italian honeysuckle. It is an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and fragrance.
Both this and the Japanese Honeysuckle are rich in a natural paraben that give it antimicrobial property. They are effective in inhibiting bacteria, yeast, and mold.
Honeysuckle contains flavonoids and saponins. Both of these components are natural antioxidants that can help soothe the skin.
As most flowers do, honeysuckle has a natural fragrance.
Learn more about Lonicera Caprifolium Flower ExtractLonicera Japonica Flower Extract comes from the honeysuckle flower.
Honeysuckles have skin protecting, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains many antioxidants, such as luteolin, caffeic acid, loniflavone, and chlorogenic acids.
This honeysuckle is native to East Asia and used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever and inflammation.
Learn more about Lonicera Japonica Flower ExtractSodium 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
