What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingSilt
AbsorbentSalicylic Acid
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract
EmollientPrunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Bellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCeteareth-20
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Alumina
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Steareth-21, Silt, Salicylic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactobionic Acid, Allantoin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Ceramide NP, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ceteareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Alumina, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Sucrose, Urea, Sodium Citrate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Levulinic Acid, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Volcanic Ash
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Bentonite
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingJuglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Polyacrylate-13
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMannitol
Humectant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-10
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Silica, Glycerin, Trehalose, Volcanic Ash, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Kaolin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pvp, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, CI 77499, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Xanthan Gum, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Sorbitan Stearate, Zea Mays Starch, Polyacrylate-13, Polysorbate 20, CI 77492, Mannitol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Metaphosphate, Lactic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyisobutene, CI 77491, Menthoxypropanediol, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyquaternium-10, Lecithin, Tocopherol
Reviews
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinWater. 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
