What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Mea
BufferingThioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Carnitine
Cleansing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Mea, Thioctic Acid, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Carnitine, Caffeine, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Retinyl Palmitate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ubiquinone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingOriganum Majorana Leaf Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Menadione
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Parfum
Masking
Water, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxystearic Acid, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Origanum Majorana Leaf Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Amber Powder, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Retinol, Tocopherol, Menadione, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Caprylyl Methicone, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Diisostearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyisobutene, Parfum
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 TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateTocopherol 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 Water
