What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Octyldodecanol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Panthenol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propylene Glycol, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Jojoba Esters, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid
Aloe Ferox Leaf Juice Extract
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Ferox Leaf Juice Extract, Octocrylene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Water, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethyl Ferulate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinThis oil comes from the seed of the prickly pear cactus. Due to its ability to be easily absorbed, it does not leave a greasy feeling behind.
The main parts of this oil are fatty acids - linoleic, oleic, and palmitic. Other than that, the seeds also contains antioxidants such as vitamin E that help soothe the skin.
Due to its fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed OilSilica, 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
