What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant10-Hydroxydecenoic Acid
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, PEG-100 Stearate, 10-Hydroxydecenoic Acid, Avena Sativa Leaf/Stem Extract, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingOctyldodecanol
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
PreservativeGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientParaffin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylparaben
PreservativeWater, Urea, Paraffinum Liquidum, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Cera Alba, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Cera Microcristallina, Methylparaben, Glycine Soja Sterols, Paraffin, Panthenol, Squalane, Allantoin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben
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 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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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