What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientPolybutene
Glyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTapioca Starch
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPantolactone
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Panthenol, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polybutene, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tapioca Starch, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingParfum
MaskingCetyl Acetate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientAcetylated Lanolin Alcohol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLactose
HumectantMel
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriceteareth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Cetyl Acetate, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ethoxydiglycol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactose, Mel, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Tromethamine, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77492
Reviews
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 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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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