What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Parfum
MaskingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzaldehyde
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyglutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Synthetic Beeswax, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mandelic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phytate, Parfum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Benzaldehyde, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientDodecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSpondias Mombin Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Dodecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract, Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylene Brassylate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, CI 17200, CI 19140
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 ingredientâs 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 AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Parfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopherol 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 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