What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCellulose
AbsorbentPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSteareth-21
CleansingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Powder
AbrasiveSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningPEG-8
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningColeus Forskohlii Callus Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sorbitan Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Cellulose, Polysorbate 60, Saccharide Isomerate, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Steareth-21, Caffeine, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Sorbitan Caprylate, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 77891, Bisabolol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, PEG-8, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture, Coleus Forskohlii Callus Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid
Cera Alba
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
EmollientCoconut Alkanes
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSqualane
EmollientC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDioscorea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingSpilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPapaver Rhoeas Extract
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantGallic Acid
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Triolein
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Dioleate
EmollientCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCera Alba, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Coconut Alkanes, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Squalane, C10-18 Triglycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dioscorea Batatas Root Extract, Parfum, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Papaver Rhoeas Extract, Tocopherol, Gallic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Triolein, Glyceryl Dioleate, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Benzyl Alcohol
Alternatives
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 TriglycerideCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol