What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Stearate
CleansingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
PEG-20 Evening Primrose Glycerides
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Oil
Perfuming
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethyl Sulfone, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, PEG-20 Evening Primrose Glycerides, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Pantothenic Acid, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Leptospermum Scoparium Mel
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialPolyquaternium-7
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Water, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Lauric Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Mel, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Polyquaternium-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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
