What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Diacetyl Boldine
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Caffeine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Alpha-Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Ubiquinone, Retinyl Palmitate, Diacetyl Boldine, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-6, Sorbitan Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate
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 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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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 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
