What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract
MoisturisingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Amber Powder
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Polyethylene, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Amber Powder, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Astragalus Membranaceus Extract
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Phenylalanine
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Squalane, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diheptyl Succinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Madecassoside, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium PCA, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Alanine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Arginine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Palmitic Acid, Isoleucine, PCA, Lauroyl Lysine, Tocopherol, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
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 TriglycerideCurcuma Longa Root Extract is from the spice, turmeric. Besides being a healthy and delicious spice, turmeric also has plenty of skincare benefits. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties.
Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant. Antioxidants help neutralize unstable free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules may damage your skin's cells and DNA. Curcumin may help with anti-aging.
Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe skin and reduce irritation. On top of that, curcumin has been shown to help prevent hyperpigmentation from sun damage.
The anti-microbial property of turmeric can make it effective in treating acne. This property has also been shown to help regulate the production of sebum.
Learn more about Curcuma Longa Root ExtractGlycerin (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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
