What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantEmpetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPavlova Lutheri Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAcrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentArginine
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSorbic Acid
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Betaine, Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice, Panthenol, Yeast Extract, Pavlova Lutheri Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Arginine, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningOleyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCandelilla Cera
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
MaskingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialMyristic Acid
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantWater, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Oleyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Candelilla Cera, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Myristic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Parfum, Sorbitol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Citric Acid, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Limonene, Coumarin, Linalool, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePanthenol 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 PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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