What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Arginine
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningMelanin
Skin ProtectingOxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Pullulan
Algin
Masking
C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenylpropanol
Masking
C20-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Methicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Butylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Arginine, Dimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Phenethyl Benzoate, Silica, Tris-Biphenyl Triazine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Physalis Angulata Extract, Plankton Extract, Melanin, Oxothiazolidine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Trehalose, Urea, Serine, Pullulan, Algin, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, Phenylpropanol, C20-22 Alcohols, Vp/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Phosphate, Lecithin, BHT, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
C13-15 Alkane
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantStearic Acid
Cleansing
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantJojoba Esters
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isostearic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Silica, Undecane, Tridecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Titanium Dioxide, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, C15-19 Alkane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyapatite, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Chloride, CI 77491, Stearic Acid, CI 77220, CI 77492, Jojoba Esters, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, CI 77499
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolSilica, 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 SilicaWater. 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
