What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
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Benefits
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Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCedrus Deodara Wood Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantGlycosphingolipids
EmollientOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningVerbena Officinalis Extract
EmollientKummerowia Striata Extract
Skin ConditioningCinchona Pubescens Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingEthylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Triethylhexanoin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cedrus Deodara Wood Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Glycosphingolipids, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Oryza Sativa Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Verbena Officinalis Extract, Kummerowia Striata Extract, Cinchona Pubescens Bark Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract, Linalool
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
EmulsifyingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientArtemisia Vulgaris Oil
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Triethylhexanoin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Water, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Barley Seed Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Water
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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.
Diisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Ethylhexyl 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 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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilThis ingredient is created by fermenting the lactobacillus bacteria with rice.
Lactobacillus is a great ingredient at keeping skin barrier healthy and rice ferment has great anti-aging benefits.
This oil comes from the outer layer (bran) of rice grains. It is packed with skin-friendly fatty acids to soften and condition the skin while supporting your moisture barrier.
What makes it stand out from other plant oils is its naturally high concentration of gamma-oryzanol, a potent antioxidant. This antioxidant has shown some UV-absorptive properties in research.
Other antioxidants found in this oil include tocopherols, tocotrienols, and ferulic acid.
According to manufacturers, this oil has a lightweight texture that absorbs nicely.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics and it has not shown to be a skin sensitizer in testing (unless you have a known rice allergy).
Due to the fatty acids (primarily Oleic Acid ~40%, Linoleic Acid ~30%, and some Palmitic Acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran OilWe don't have a description for Oryza Sativa Lees Extract yet.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSorbeth-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 TetraoleateTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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