What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Seedcake Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialGlucose
Humectant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Betaine, C12-14 Alketh-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trehalose, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Xylitol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Citrate, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Seedcake Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Glucose, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Sitosterol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Phytosterols, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Bambusa Vulgaris Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Arginine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
