What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Teprenone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPantolactone
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Decyl Oleate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Plankton Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, C12-16 Alcohols, Palmitic Acid, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Teprenone, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Pantolactone, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Cysteine
Antioxidant
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Cysteine, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Polysorbate 20, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Linoleic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilTocopherol 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
