What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Polyacrylate-13
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentPolyisobutene
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Zinc PCA, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Polyisobutene, Maltodextrin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientKaolin
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Mannitol
Humectant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSucrose
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Kaolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Mannitol, Arachidyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Glucose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Zea Mays Starch, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, CI 77891, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Sucrose, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, CI 77007, Allantoin, CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77289, CI 77492
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexylglycerin 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 StearateThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
