What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Shea Butter Glycerides
Emulsifying
Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Soyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglycerin-3, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Shea Butter Glycerides, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Gluconate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Panthenol, Alpha-Arbutin, Hyaluronic Acid, Soyethyl Morpholinium Ethosulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, C14-22 Alcohols, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract
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 TriglycerideCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateTocopherol 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
