What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Histidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingGlucose
HumectantMaltose
MaskingFructose
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingUrea
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientPhytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientTriolein
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Triolein, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC13-15 Alkane
SolventDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables
AntioxidantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phytate
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientSodium PCA
HumectantCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentAcetyl Dipeptide-3 Aminohexanoate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-40
Skin ConditioningBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
PerfumingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingJuniperus Virginiana Wood Extract
PerfumingMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButter Extract
EmollientCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientCoffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
MaskingCucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, C13-15 Alkane, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Lactate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Sodium PCA, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-3 Aminohexanoate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Juniperus Virginiana Wood Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Butter Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Honey Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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