What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Myristate
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningRosa Moschata Seed Oil
EmollientEctoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientParfum
MaskingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ceramide Ng, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Ectoin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Parfum, Cellulose Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate
Olea Europaea Leaf Water
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLamium Album Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPapaver Rhoeas Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingActinotus Helianthi Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water Extract
AntioxidantFoeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbus Aucuparia Fruit/Leaf Extract
HumectantChenopodium Album Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
AntimicrobialWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeLecithin
EmollientIsoamyl Cocoate
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantIron Oxides
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeP-Anisic Acid
MaskingFragaria Vesca Fruit
AstringentAlthaea Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Water, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Water, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lamium Album Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Actinotus Helianthi Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract, Sorbus Aucuparia Fruit/Leaf Extract, Chenopodium Album Flower Extract, Bakuchiol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Lactobacillus Ferment, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Lecithin, Isoamyl Cocoate, Diheptyl Succinate, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, P-Anisic Acid, Fragaria Vesca Fruit, Althaea Officinalis Leaf Extract
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 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 StearateTocopherol 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