What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientSqualane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientInositol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingParfum
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningSericin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantRosa Damascena Flower Extract
MaskingOryza Sativa Germ Oil
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingBatyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Inositol, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Sericin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Batyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
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 TriglyceridePhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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