What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Silica
AbrasiveHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLauric Acid
CleansingDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, C14-22 Alcohols, Glyceryl Stearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Silica, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Parfum, Panthenol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lauric Acid, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentCetyl Palmitate
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Myristyl Alcohol
EmollientPhyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningUsnea Barbata Extract
Pulsatilla Koreana Extract
Skin ConditioningAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCyclodextrin
AbsorbentAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLauryl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningNatto Gum
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Bakuchiol, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Cetyl Palmitate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyisobutene, Myristyl Alcohol, Phyllostachys Pubescens Shoot Bark Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Aspergillus Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cyclodextrin, Adenosine, Lauryl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Glucose, Wheat Amino Acids, Natto Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside
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
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolWe don't have a description for C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside yet.
C14-22 Alcohols is made up of synthetic fatty alcohols. More specifically, these fatty alcohols contain 14 to 22 carbons in the alkyl chain.
Its main purpose is to stabilize products. As an emulsifier, it helps prevent waters and oils from separating.
Due to this ingredient having a similar composition to cetearyl alcohol, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe. However, the risk is low and has been only shown by a single study, so SkinSort does not currently flag C14-22 Alcohols as a fungal acne trigger.
Learn more about C14-22 AlcoholsThis 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 TriglycerideCetearyl 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 AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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