What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Rice Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCrambe Maritima Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Gardenia Jasminoides Meristem Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Coconut Alkanes, Ethyl Macadamiate, Sodium Chloride, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Rice Amino Acids, Proline, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Crambe Maritima Leaf Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Gardenia Jasminoides Meristem Cell Culture Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Glycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen
Moisturising
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Flower Cell Extract
MaskingLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Urea
Buffering
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Algin
Masking
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Pullulan
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, C9-12 Alkane, Propanediol, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Nelumbo Nucifera Germ Extract, Collagen, Butyl Avocadate, Trehalose, Serine, Vitis Vinifera Flower Cell Extract, Linolenic Acid, Urea, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Algin, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Oleic Acid, Pullulan, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Potassium Phosphate, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate
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 TriglycerideCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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
