What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingC12-13 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantPhytic Acid
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAcacia Dealbata Flower Wax
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Wax
Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Wax
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNicotiana Sylvestris Leaf Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningN-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pullulan, CI 77891, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Phytic Acid, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Acacia Dealbata Flower Wax, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Wax, Jasminum Grandiflorum Flower Wax, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Citric Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Centella Asiatica Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Nicotiana Sylvestris Leaf Cell Culture, N-Prolyl Palmitoyl Tripeptide-56 Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Biotin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventShorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Betaine
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Methylpropanediol, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Bisabolol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Betaine, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrapeptide-30, Potassium Sorbate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide EOP
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololCaprylic/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 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractWater. 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
