What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Isotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientPEG-6 Glyceryl Isostearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Benzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide Acetate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Extract
HumectantLactobacillus/Grape Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Ferment Filtrate
BleachingSaccharomyces/Day Lily Flower Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Schizosaccharomyces/Fig Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Hydrolyzed Stachys Affinis Tuber Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Olive Leaf Ferment Extract
HumectantGluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
Humectant
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ag
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentHydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Silica
Abrasive
Lactobacillus/Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningZymomonas Ferment Extract
HumectantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Glycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, PEG-6 Glyceryl Isostearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Benzylsulfonyl D-Seryl Homophenylalanine Amidinobenzamide Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Charcoal Powder, Aspergillus/Rice Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Grape Juice Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Day Lily Flower Ferment Filtrate, Schizosaccharomyces/Fig Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Hydrolyzed Stachys Affinis Tuber Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Olive Leaf Ferment Extract, Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Honey Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Hydroxystearic Acid, Silica, Lactobacillus/Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Zymomonas Ferment Extract, Maltodextrin, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Undecane, Tridecane, Glycine Soja Sterols, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate is a synthetic, oil-loving helper ingredient that does two jobs:
This ingredient is made by joining three building blocks: PEG, Isostearic Acid and glycerin. The PEG gives it the oil-and-water blending power.
This ingredient has been found safe for use in cosmetics and broader PEG family testing shows minimal irritation/sensitization. The molecule's large size also means it isn't expected to penetrate skin to any meaningful degree.
Fungal acne note: This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to isostearic acid (C18). Isostearic acid falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about PEG-20 Glyceryl TriisostearateSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. 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
