What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantNephelium Longana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingPinene
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid, Nephelium Longana Seed Extract, Beta-Glucan, Copper Tripeptide-1, Bacillus Ferment, Pullulan, Cyanocobalamin, Riboflavin, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Menthoxypropanediol, Benzoic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Linalyl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citric Acid, Linalool, Pinene, Citral, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Dilaurate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ceteareth-20, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Arginine, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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