What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Collagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Octyldodecanol, Triethylhexanoin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glucose, Arginine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Citric Acid, CI 77220, Ascorbic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Glutathione, Collagen Extract
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingSqualane
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Triethylhexanoin, Squalane, Synthetic Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Silica, Water, Ceramide NP, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trihydroxystearin, Ceresin, Ozokerite, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Retinol, Cetyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
This ingredient is a form of glycerin with emulsifying and emollient properties.
As an emulsifier, this ingredient helps keep products together while adding a thick texture. The manufacturer states this ingredient has emollient properties. Emollients help keep the skin hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate is created by reacting diglycerin and isostearic acid. Due to the isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-2 TriisostearateTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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
