What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Polyethylene
Abrasive
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentIris Versicolor Extract
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingRhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Arachidonate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Iris Versicolor Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Rhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, Water, Squalane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Polyquaternium-51, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Glyceryl Linolenate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyethylene, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Linalool, Limonene
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
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 TriglycerideEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinOenothera Biennis Oil (aka Evening Primrose Oil) is a non-fragrant oil from the evening primrose. Like other botanical oils, it is an emollient that helps hydrate and nourish skin.
It has an interesting fatty acid profile: linoleic (70-74%) and γ-linolenic (8-10%), with some amounts ofoleic palmitic, and stearic acids.
The gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) is the headliner here; it's relatively rare in plant oils and acts as a precursor for anti-inflammatory signaling molecules in the skin.
There's a mixed body of clinical research with this ingredient as well, mostly on eczema/atopic dermatitis skin.
Some controlled trials showed improvement in inflammation, dryness, scaling, and overall severity. Other studies and large meta-analysis failed to show a significant effect; the honest takeaway here is "promising but inconsistent" rather than "miracle oil".
On the safety front, this ingredient is found to be safe as used in cosmetics and even has a history of safe food use.
Since this oil is contains oleic acid and palmitic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Oleic Acid sits at C18 and Palmitic acid sits at C16.
In vitro studies have shown that oleic acid and palmitic acid are some of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Oenothera Biennis OilPolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate is a surfactant and emulsifier.
This ingredient is a tetraester from oleic acid and polyethylene glycol ether of sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it helps ingredients such as oil and water mix together. This allows the dirt and oils in your skin to be washed away.
One study found pumpkin oil containing Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate helped hydrate the skin and did not cause any irritation.
Learn more about Sorbeth-30 TetraoleateWater. 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
