What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-20 Stearate, Caffeine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ferulic Acid, Ubiquinone, Disodium EDTA
Zinc Oxide 14.4%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGriffonia Simplicifolia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentGlyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyurethane-79
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingIron Oxides
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Zinc Oxide 14.4%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Lauroyl Lysine, Cetyl Esters, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Griffonia Simplicifolia Seed Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Mica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glyceryl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyurethane-79, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Punica Granatum Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Iron Oxides, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caffeine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tin Oxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineThis 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 TriglycerideCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateWater. 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
