What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingC9-12 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Capric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethylhexanoin, C9-12 Alkane, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Oleate, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Triethyl Citrate, Lauroyl Lysine, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Disodium EDTA, Capric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Tribehenin
Emollient
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Stearate
Emollient
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Ethyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSucrose
Humectant
Lysine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantMagnesium Chloride
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, C9-12 Alkane, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Tribehenin, Ethyl Oleate, Butylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ectoin, Silica, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Plankton Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Tocopherol, Ethyl Stearate, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sucrose, Lysine, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Magnesium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C9-12 Alkane is synethically created using alkanes, or paraffins. It is added to products as a solvent. This means its main purpose is to help dissolve ingredients and create even texture.
Coco-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/CaprateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate is a plant-derived emulsifier made by combining glycerin and ricinoleic acid.
It works well for giving buttery lip balms and low-viscosity water-in-oil emulsions a non-greasy and pleasant skin feel.
Typical concentrations range from 0.1-3%.
This ingredient is mild and non-irritating in nature.
Because it is derived from ricinoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleatePropanediol 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 PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
