What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Squalane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Perfluorodecalin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
Astringent
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acetyl Tributyl Citrate
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Citrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBHT
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientChrysin
Skin ConditioningPhenyl T-Butylnitrone
Antioxidant
Carrageenan
Water, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polysorbate 20, Cetearyl Olivate, Caffeine, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Sorbitan Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Perfluorodecalin, Gluconolactone, Tartaric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Phytic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Benzoic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Lecithin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, BHT, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Glucose, Astaxanthin, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Chrysin, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone, Carrageenan
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTrifolium Pratense Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ribose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingPotassium Stearate
CleansingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Bakuchiol, Tocopherol, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Scutellaria Alpina Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Trifolium Pratense Leaf Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Plankton Extract, Phragmites Communis Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Stearic Acid, Ribose, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, P-Anisic Acid, Potassium Stearate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lactic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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 TriglycerideCitric 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 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.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
