What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTribehenin
Emollient
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lavandula Stoechas Extract
MaskingPEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Dimethicone, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Squalane, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Polysilicone-11, Ethoxydiglycol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tribehenin, Ceramide Ns, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lavandula Stoechas Extract, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Resveratrol
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolysilicone-11
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientTribehenin
Emollient
PEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Melatonin, Ceramide Ng, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysilicone-11, Ethoxydiglycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Laurate, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Tribehenin, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Dimethyl Isosorbide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolThis ingredient is a retinoid. It usually goes by a more common name: "Granactive".
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes retinol and tretinoin.
Retinoids have been proven to:
So what is the difference between all the retinoids?
Most retinoids need to go through a conversion line to become effective on skin. The ending product is retinoic acid. Retinoic acid is AKA tretinoin.
HPR is an ester of tretinoin. Emerging studies suggest HPR to have an added benefit that other retinoids don't have: Low irritation.
A study from 2021 found HPR to have the greatest stability when exposed to light and temperature out of all the commercial retinoids.
A note about naming:
The name "Granactive" is the trade name and the name most commonly used on packages.
Granactive is the name of the mixture - about 90% solvent and 10% HPR. A product with 5% granactive has 0.5% HPR.
Learn more about Hydroxypinacolone RetinoatePalmitoyl Hexapeptide-14 is a peptide.
Polysilicone-11 is a film-forming silicone that creates a non-tacky and matte finish on the skin. It's commonly used to improve texture, absorb excess oil, and help active ingredients spread evenly.
Due to its "rubber-like" structure, it stays on the skin's surface instead of being absorbed. On the skin, it creates a flexible layer that enhances wearability and stability.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTribehenin is the triglyceride of glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient that helps soften and condition skin.
Safety-wise, this is a well-vetted ingredient. Repeated-insult patch tests of 0.38% tribehenin did not trigger sensitization.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because behenic acid falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia yeasts can feed on.
Learn more about Tribehenin
