What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-37
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Myristyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Zea Mays Starch, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Trisiloxane, Polyquaternium-37, Allantoin, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Benzalkonium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide EOP, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-7
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-7, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
