What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexyl Pelargonate
EmollientZea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventArtemisia Princeps Leaf Water
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Protease
Exfoliating
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Wax, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexyl Pelargonate, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Malt Extract, Sodium Dna, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide NP, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Panthenol, Mannitol, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Papain, Bromelain, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Protease, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Seed Water
Antimicrobial
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, PEG-10 Isostearate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Water, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSorbitan Sesquioleate is derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It is an emulsifier and prevents ingredients from separating.
Specifically, this ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier, meaning it helps water dissolve into oil.
Some studies suggest this ingredient may cause irritation in some people. If you are unsure, it is best to patch test.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe due to the oleic acid. In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Sorbitan SesquioleateSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. 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
