What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables
Antioxidant
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Phytosterols, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycolipids, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Cnicus Japonicus Extract
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Rotundifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Acacia Decurrens Extract
AstringentCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cnicus Japonicus Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Vitis Rotundifolia Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Acacia Decurrens Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Jojoba Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium PCA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Polyglycerin-3, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil
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
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterThis 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 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 StearateHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneThis ingredient also goes by the name SSL. It is a non-toxic, biodegradable ingredient made from renewable sources.
SSL is typically used as a surfactant and emulsifier in skincare to stabilize water-based formulas and improve texture. It can be synthetic or animal-derived.
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 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
