What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialDaemonorops Draco Extract
AstringentAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Squalane, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin, Bakuchiol, Retinal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexapeptide-11, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Daemonorops Draco Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ubiquinone, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Pullulan, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Madecassoside, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Citral, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol Salicylate
Teprenone
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Palmitate, Behenyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Retinal, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Bakuchiol Salicylate, Teprenone, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Arachidyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Linolenate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 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 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 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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolRetinal is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the gold-standard class of anti-aging ingredients.
Retinal has many benefits as other retinoids: improve skin texture, reduce large pores, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, heal scars, and fight acne.
Studies show retinal may work at a faster rate than retinol due to its structure.
All retinoids have to be converted into retinoic acid before starting to work. Some retinoids take several steps of conversion before binding. Retinal is only one step away, making it more potent.
Like other retinoids, retinal may be irritating. It is best to ease into using this ingredient frequently.
Using the 'ramp up' method, start by using retinol once a week. This gives your skin time to adjust and decrease irritation. Once you feel ready, you can slowly increase the frequency of retinol use.
Using retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
Learn more about RetinalSodium 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 Tocopherol
