What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingEuphrasia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Malva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentTriethanolamine
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Primula Veris Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Veronica Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Stearate, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Triethanolamine, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol Denat., Tocopherol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Bisabolol, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Phospholipids, Primula Veris Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Veronica Officinalis Extract, CI 77891, Mica, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventVinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Surfactant
Isododecane
EmollientAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Cellulose
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-11
Glycerin
Humectant
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Stearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C9-12 Alkane, Vinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isododecane, Alcohol, Cellulose, Silica, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polysilicone-11, Glycerin, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylene Brassylate, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
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 TriglycerideCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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
