What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPropylene Glycol
HumectantBis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingMethoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate
EmulsifyingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantFarnesol
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone, Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Xanthan Gum, Dicaprylyl Ether, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Farnesol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Cocoate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasivePropanediol
SolventAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Cellulose
AbsorbentOleyl Erucate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingC9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSulfur
AntiseborrhoeicHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientZinc Ricinoleate
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Decyl Cocoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triheptanoin, Kaolin, Propanediol, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Cellulose, Oleyl Erucate, Squalane, Sorbitan Olivate, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sulfur, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Palmitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Oleate, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Acacia Senegal Gum, Mica, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77163, CI 77289, CI 77288, Zinc Oxide
Alternatives
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum