What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventShorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Betaine
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Methylpropanediol, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Bisabolol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Betaine, Adenosine, Sodium Phytate, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrapeptide-30, Potassium Sorbate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPullulan
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Water, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hexyl Laurate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Phytosterols, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin
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 Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol 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
