What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingDimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Alumina
Abrasive
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Phytate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hexyl Laurate, Cellulose, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Silica Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Citrate, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Boron Nitride, Alumina, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, CI 77891, Menthoxypropanediol, Sorbitol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Phytate, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Glycol, Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xylose
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingC20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHexamethylindanopyran
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTerpineol
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Aminoethanesulfinic Acid
Antioxidant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Chloride
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
Perfuming
Tetrapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingMagnesium Sulfate
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingCalcium Chloride
AstringentWater, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Xylose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C20-22 Alcohols, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Parfum, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Coco-Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Hexamethylindanopyran, Sodium Chloride, Terpineol, Citric Acid, Linalyl Acetate, Aminoethanesulfinic Acid, Carnosine, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate, Tetrapeptide-1, Disodium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Micrococcus Lysate, Tocopherol, Potassium Phosphate, Calcium Chloride
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 TriglycerideCellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CellulosePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
