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 ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentCarum Carvi Seed Extract
MaskingCamellia Seed Oil
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTuber Melanosporum Extract
HumectantXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCastanea Sativa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Stone Bean Extract
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRehmannia Elata Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
HumectantHoney
HumectantPyrus Malus Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBacillus
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract
AntimicrobialOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dimethicone, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Cyclodextrin, Carum Carvi Seed Extract, Camellia Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Propanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tuber Melanosporum Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Sativa Bark Extract, Natto Gum, Stone Bean Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Rehmannia Elata Root Extract, Glucose, Honey, Pyrus Malus Stem Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus, Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Extract, Oryza Sativa 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.
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
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 TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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 WaterZingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.
Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.
The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:
This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.
Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract