What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf
MaskingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningStearoxytrimethylsilane
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientScentenal
PerfumingWater, Oryza Sativa, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Sorbitol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Scentenal
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCera Alba
EmollientLanolin
EmollientBetaine
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCurcuma Longa Root Powder
Skin ConditioningAnise Alcohol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Lanolin, Betaine, Polysorbate 60, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Carbomer, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Curcuma Longa Root Powder, Anise Alcohol, Coumarin, Limonene
Alternatives
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilThis ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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