What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Colloidal Gold
AntimicrobialRhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Phalaenopsis Amabilis Extract
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsomalt
HumectantLecithin
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Colloidal Gold, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phalaenopsis Amabilis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk, Lactic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isomalt, Lecithin, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Geraniol
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
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sorbitan Stearate comes from sorbitol and stearic acid. Sorbitol is a type of sugar and stearic acid is a fatty acid.
It is used as an emulsifier and helps ingredients stay together by creating water-in-oil emulsions.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Water. 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
