What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoco-Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventStearic Acid
CleansingCeteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualene
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalene, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPolyamide-5
Skin ConditioningC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Sodium Phytate
Cetearyl Olivate
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polyamide-5, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Sodium Phytate, Cetearyl Olivate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sorbitan Olivate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 TriglycerideThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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