What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Squalane
Emollient
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetyl Hexapeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Water, Cera Alba, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tripeptide-29, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Ornithine, Phospholipids, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycolipids, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Salicylate, Levulinic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-38, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Petrolatum
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientBehenyl Methacrylate/T-Butyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Isocetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTribehenin
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum, Panthenol, Isododecane, Behenyl Methacrylate/T-Butyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Water, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isocetyl Alcohol, Menthyl Lactate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Parfum, CI 77891, Tribehenin, Mica, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Cetyl Alcohol, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Citric Acid, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Bisabolol, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololThis 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 TriglycerideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilTocopherol 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
