What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Propanediol
Solvent
Magnesium Sulfate
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Royal Jelly
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cedrol
EmollientAllyl Caproate
Astringent
Benzyl Acetate
Masking
Terpineol
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Dimethylheptenal
Perfuming
Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Beeswax, Propanediol, Magnesium Sulfate, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Honey, Royal Jelly, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Triethyl Citrate, Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Geraniol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cedrol, Allyl Caproate, Benzyl Acetate, Terpineol, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Dimethylheptenal, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Citral, Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningSilver Citrate
AntimicrobialMagnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glyceryl Oleate, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Zinc Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Maris Sal, Silver Citrate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus 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.
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 TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
