What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-12
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Ribes Rubrum Fruit Extract
TonicRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, PEG-12, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Ribes Rubrum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Resveratrol Dimethyl Ether
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Pinanediol
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCamphanediol
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Steareth-20
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Citronellyl Methylcrotonate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Behenate, Cetyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Superoxide Dismutase, Resveratrol Dimethyl Ether, Quercetin, Pinanediol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Glycine Soja Protein, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Dipeptide-2, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Camphanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lecithin, Arachidyl Glucoside, Alcohol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, BHT, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Steareth-20, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Citrate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, CI 15985
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 TriglycerideDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Dextran Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
