What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Sodium Behenate
CleansingAminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCanola Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
MaskingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Gluconolactone, Dimethicone, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Sodium Behenate, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Calcium Gluconate, Canola Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlbatrellus Confluens Extract
Humectant
Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tetrapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Algin
Masking
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Glucomannan
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Cellulose Gum, Albatrellus Confluens Extract, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Tetrapeptide-1, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Algin, Retinal, Glucomannan, Phospholipids, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Calcium Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is calcium salt of gluconic acid. It is a humectant, meaning it attracts water to your skin.
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
