What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientEleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract
AstringentRhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Propanediol
SolventGlycereth-2 Cocoate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract, Rhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Phytate, Propanediol, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Butylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
EmollientBrassica Alcohol
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBrassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Brassica Alcohol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Arginine, Sclerotium Gum, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Citric Acid, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Alternatives
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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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