What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Rice Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
Cleansing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhosphatidylglycerol
Sodium Chloride
MaskingWater, Azelaic Acid, Glycerin, Rice Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Coconut Alkanes, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Mono/Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Behenate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phosphatidylglycerol, Sodium Chloride
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventOleyl Erucate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Oleyl Erucate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Coco-Glucoside, Niacinamide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Cetyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hyaluronic Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
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 TriglycerideCetyl Palmitate is a wax-ester that pulls triple duty as an emollient, thickener, and emulsion enhancer.
It helps enhance the texture of products by giving a smooth, silky feel while helping to stabilize the formula. The emollient action softens skin and reduces moisture loss.
This ingredient is considered safe and human testing of concentrations between 2.5-2.7% were found minimal irritation. Just know, there have been very rare cases of the palmitate family causing contact dermatitis.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it contains a C16 ester (palmitic acid) that falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about Cetyl PalmitateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
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
