What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingAphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract
AstringentPropanediol
SolventCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMaris Aqua
HumectantInositol
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Algin
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSucrose
HumectantTetraselmis Suecica Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTocopherol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrochloric Acid
BufferingCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Aphloia Theiformis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Sorbitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Maris Aqua, Inositol, Benzyl Alcohol, Succinoglycan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Algin, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sucrose, Tetraselmis Suecica Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrochloric Acid, CI 77163
Water
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOleic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Avocado Oil
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTerminalia Arjuna Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Phytate
Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientAniba Rosodora Wood Extract
MaskingWater, Mica, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Zea Mays Starch, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleic Acid, Hydrogenated Avocado Oil, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, CI 77891, Terminalia Arjuna Extract, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77491, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Gleditsia Triacanthos Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Aniba Rosodora Wood Extract
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 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolTocopherol 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