What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingChrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCordyceps Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Swiftlet Nest Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Flower Extract
TonicRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Threonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, PEG-10 Isostearate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Swiftlet Nest Extract, Angelica Gigas Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glycerin, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Water, Pantolactone
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Isododecane
EmollientBabassu Oil Glycereth-8 Esters
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Tetradecenyl/Methylpentadecene
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Fructose
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, Isododecane, Babassu Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Hydrogenated Tetradecenyl/Methylpentadecene, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Coco-Glucoside, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Inulin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fructose
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil is the oil expressed from the seeds from the tea plant. This is the same plant we get green, black, and oolong tea from.
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil is rich in oleic acid. This makes it an effective moisturizer. By drawing moisture to the skin, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil helps keep your skin hydrated.
Other components of Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil includes Vitamin E and polyphenols. These are antioxidants that may help slow down the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or unstable molecules that can damage our skin cells.
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil also has anti-inflammatory properties.
The seed oil comes from the dried kernels of the plant.
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Seed OilCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil is a lightweight oil from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree. In cosmetics, it's an emollient that forms a light film to slow water loss and soften skin.
Its fatty acid composition is dominated by oleic acid (70-78%), with smaller amounts of behenic, palmitic, and stearic acids (this profile is actually pretty similar to olive oil).
Notably, this ingredient is oxidatively stable for an oil and resists going rancid as fast as other oils.
A small, in vivo study on 32 participants found a cream with this ingredient increased skin hydration with no reported skin irritation. It also found the tocopherol content gave it some antioxidant activity as well.
One thing to flag for fungal acne:
Because this oil is so high in oleic acid, Malassezia can use it as a food source and this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
For everyone else, this ingredient is well-tolerated and nourishing with a good safety track record.
Learn more about Moringa Oleifera Seed OilSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
It has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxVitis Vinifera Seed Oil comes from the grape vine. Grape seeds are a byproduct of creating grape juice or wine.
The components of grape seeds have many skin benefits. Research has found it to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also contains many potent antioxidants such as Vitamin E , Vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Proanthocyanidin has been shown to help even out skin tone.
Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. Grape seed extract may help reduce the signs of aging.
The antimicrobial properties of grape seed may help treat acne. However, more research is needed to support this claim.
Grape seed has also been found to help absorb UV rays. Grape seed extract should not replace your sunscreen.
The fatty acids of grape seed oil give it emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin by creating a film. This film traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydrated.
Learn more about Vitis Vinifera Seed OilWater. 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
