What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPaeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, CI 77891, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Mica, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lecithin, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Hyaluronic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Silica, Khaya Senegalensis Bark Extract, Maltodextrin, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Coumarin
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 7%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyester-8
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Copolymer
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Lactis Proteinum
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Polymethacrylate
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
PPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 7%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 3.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 4.5%, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyester-8, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Acrylates Copolymer, Dextrin Palmitate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Lactis Proteinum, Algae Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Caprylyl Glycol, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Caffeine, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Plankton Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, PEG-8, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Stearyl Alcohol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, BHT, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
