What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPolyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ribes Rubrum Fruit Extract
TonicRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Benzoic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Ribes Rubrum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Gardenia Taitensis Flower
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camphor
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Methionine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Trehalose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Water, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Myristyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Madecassoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Asiaticoside, Lauryl Alcohol, Madecassic Acid, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Asiatic Acid, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Camphor, Leucine, Phenylalanine, Methionine, Lysine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Valine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool
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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 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 StearatePolyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.
It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.
Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.
Learn more about PolyisobuteneTocopherol 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
