What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Propanediol
SolventSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Hyperborea Extract
Skin ProtectingLecithin
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantIsomalt
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
PerfumingAminomethyl Propanol
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDimethylamino Methylpropanol
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeSodium Phytate
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Propanediol, Sodium Dna, Lycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Laminaria Hyperborea Extract, Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Isomalt, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Levulinic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Dimethylamino Methylpropanol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Phytate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientOligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf
Skin ConditioningSodium Dna
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolyisobutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDeoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Oligopeptide-1, Centella Asiatica Leaf, Sodium Dna, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate-13, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propanediol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Chlorphenesin, Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Carbomer, Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol
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
Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium DNA is an emerging anti-aging ingredient.
It is created by taking deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and purifying it with sodium hydroxide.
The DNA is extracted from several different animal sources, including: calf thymus, the gonadic tissue of a male sturgeon, or herring / salmon sperm.
You have probably seen this ingredient in anti-aging skincare. But what is it?
DNA is composed of nucleotides, or chemical building blocks. Nucleotides include adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Talk about a flashback to biology! Nucleosides are formed from these nucleotides.
The science behind Sodium DNA is based on an ingredient called Polydeoxyribonucleotide or PDRN.
PDRN are DNA fragments mainly extracted from the sperm cells of trout or salmon. Meaning, PDRN can be derived from Sodium DNA.
PDRN consists of chains of nucleotides and nucleosides mentioned above. They can range anywhere from 80 - 2000 pairs.
Studies show PDRN has the following properties:
Most of the research on PDRN has been done using injectable forms. That’s important, because PDRN is a large molecule and doesn’t absorb well through the skin. So if you’re applying it topically, the effects are likely to be much milder.
Still, topical Sodium DNA is emerging as a trendy anti-aging ingredient. It’s generally well-tolerated and offers good biocompatibility with human skin, making it a low-risk addition to most routines.
Further studies are needed to truly confirm this ingredients anti-aging ability (Remember, retinol has decades of research!).
Sodium DNA may be sourced from fish, animal tissue, or plants. Since this isn’t always disclosed, we recommend asking the brand directly if the ingredient’s origin is important to you.
Learn more about Sodium DnaWater. 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