What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOcimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientBetaine
HumectantBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingVerbena Officinalis Extract
EmollientPolyquaternium-10
Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
MaskingCupressus Sempervirens Branch/Leaf Oil
MaskingCupressus Sempervirens Oil
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAbies Sibirica Oil
MaskingLimonene
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Betaine, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Biotin, Panthenol, Caffeine, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Verbena Officinalis Extract, Polyquaternium-10, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Branch/Leaf Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Abies Sibirica Oil, Limonene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat.
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientChrysanthemum Sibiricum Extract
AntimicrobialStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingGleditsia Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlutamic Acid
HumectantRehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningThuja Orientalis Leaf Extract
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAminopropyl Dimethicone
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAcorus Calamus Root Extract
PerfumingVitex Trifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLecithin
EmollientKeratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantOxidized Keratin
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingCrinum Asiaticum Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-10
HumectantLaureth-23
CleansingC12-15 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Chrysanthemum Sibiricum Extract, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Gleditsia Japonica Fruit Extract, Parfum, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glutamic Acid, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Thuja Orientalis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Vitex Trifolia Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Panthenol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Glycerin, Lecithin, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Oxidized Keratin, Ceteareth-20, Crinum Asiaticum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, PEG-10, Laureth-23, C12-15 Pareth-3, Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Reviews
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 alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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