What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCoconut Alkanes
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMeadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventLinoleic Acid
CleansingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentTribehenin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantUrea
BufferingDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Hydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantSodium Phytate
PEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTriacetin
AntimicrobialCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate, Meadowfoam Estolide, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Triheptanoin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Methylpropanediol, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Phytosterols, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sodium PCA, Urea, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Hydroxyproline Palmitamide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Ceramide Ng, Trehalose, Sodium Phytate, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Palmitic Acid, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Tocopherol, Triacetin, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientPrunus Cerasus Fruit Extract
AntioxidantFagus Sylvatica Bud Extract
TonicLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Triethanolamine, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Algae Extract, Prunus Cerasus Fruit Extract, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Linalool, Mentha Piperita Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 StearatePalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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