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
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Porphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Flower Extract
Masking
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate-13
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Polyisobutene
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polyisobutene, Parfum, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citronellol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Limonene
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Propionate
Skin Conditioning
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Masking
Sclareolide
Masking
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Coconut Alkanes, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, C13-15 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Salicylic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Retinyl Propionate, Butyl Avocadate, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Sclareolide, Triolein, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Tocopherol, BHT, Propyl Gallate
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 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 AlcoholCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
