What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Stearate
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentArtemisia Capillaris Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Polyisobutene, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Propanediol, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oryza Sativa Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Rice Amino Acids
Ethylhexyl Stearate
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientCanola Oil
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlutamic Acid
HumectantSerine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexyl Stearate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Canola Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Sea Water, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phosphatidylcholine, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lysine, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, Proline, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPEthylhexyl Stearate mainly acts as an emollient that also helps reduce the greasiness of oils in a formula. As an emollient, it softens and hydrates your skin by locking moisture in.
Because Ethylhexyl Stearate contains a C18 fatty acid chain, it may not be Malassezia/fungal acne safe. This is because the Malassezia yeast potentially feeds on C11-C24 fatty acids. If you're prone to flare-ups, you might want to patch-test or skip this one.
This ingredient is an ester of 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and stearic acid.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl StearateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate is a surfactant and emulsifier.
This ingredient is a tetraester from oleic acid and polyethylene glycol ether of sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it helps ingredients such as oil and water mix together. This allows the dirt and oils in your skin to be washed away.
One study found pumpkin oil containing Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate helped hydrate the skin and did not cause any irritation.
Learn more about Sorbeth-30 TetraoleateTocopherol 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