What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Smithsonite Extract
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHelichrysum Stoechas Extract
TonicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Plantago Lanceolata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAlteromonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Isomalt
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Smithsonite Extract, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Methylpropanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Tapioca Starch, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Helichrysum Stoechas Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Plantago Lanceolata Seed Extract, Lycium Barbarum Callus Culture Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Diaminopropionoyl Tripeptide-33, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Isomalt, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Phenethyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Amniotic Fluid
MoisturisingGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 40
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Tea-Stearate
CleansingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Myrtus Communis Extract
AstringentMimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Rhizobian Gum
Tea-Lactate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Magnesium Chloride
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Vinegar
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Amniotic Fluid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 40, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-2 Stearate, Tea-Stearate, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Myrtus Communis Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Allantoin, Urea, Serine, Rhizobian Gum, Tea-Lactate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Magnesium Chloride, Niacinamide, Vinegar, Lactic Acid, Gluconolactone, Pyridoxine Hcl, Thiamine Hcl, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Alcohol, Sorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidWater. 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
