What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables
Antioxidant
Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingSqualene
Emollient
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Leaf Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Phytate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Asteriscus Graveolens Flower/Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ProtectingPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Carrageenan
Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Acetyl Sh-Heptapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Isopentyldiol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Unsaponifiables, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenylpropanol, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Squalene, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Xanthan Gum, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Asteriscus Graveolens Flower/Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Carrageenan, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Phytosterols, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Tocopherol, Sea Salt, Acetyl Sh-Heptapeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
