What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventAlcohol
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventCetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Sorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingDisodium EDTA
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Dimethicone, Trehalose, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, CI 77492, CI 77288, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77007, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Disodium EDTA, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientKaolin
AbrasiveCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventMannitol
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlucose
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSucrose
HumectantTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Kaolin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Mannitol, Arachidyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Glucose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Behenyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Zea Mays Starch, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, CI 77891, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Sucrose, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, CI 77007, Allantoin, CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77289, CI 77492
Reviews
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
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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholThis pigment is called Ultramarine blue lazurite. It gives a saturated blue color, but can be used to create other colors as well.
According to the manufacturer, it is usually made from kaolin, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sulfur, and charcoal.
CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTromethamine helps balance the pH and improve the texture of a product. It is synthetically created.
As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.
Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.
1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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