What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningEthyl Vanillin
MaskingPolypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Lecithin
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Ethyl Vanillin, Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Propylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Lecithin, Silica, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Alumina
Abrasive
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Phenethyl Benzoate
Emollient
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Physalis Angulata Extract
Skin ProtectingMelanin
Skin ProtectingPlankton Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Oxothiazolidine
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Niacinamide, Alumina, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Phenethyl Benzoate, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract, Physalis Angulata Extract, Melanin, Plankton Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Oxothiazolidine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Phenylpropanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Propanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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 TriglycerideLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinPolypodium Leucotomos Leaf Extract can help to reduce redness.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, 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 SilicaTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
