What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-8 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Ceteth-24
CleansingCholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Choleth-24
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Squalane
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Arachidonate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingColloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polyethylene, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, PEG-8 Isostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Linolenate, Beta-Sitosterol, Ceteth-24, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Choleth-24, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Squalane, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Ubiquinone, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Xanthan Gum, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ceramide Eos, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Silica, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Colloidal Oatmeal, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Biotin, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Carbomer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Lactate, Lecithin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Alcohol
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Aroma
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Honey Extract
Humectant
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, PEG-10 Isostearate, Aroma, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Alternatives
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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate is a synthetic, oil-loving helper ingredient that does two jobs:
This ingredient is made by joining three building blocks: PEG, Isostearic Acid and glycerin. The PEG gives it the oil-and-water blending power.
This ingredient has been found safe for use in cosmetics and broader PEG family testing shows minimal irritation/sensitization. The molecule's large size also means it isn't expected to penetrate skin to any meaningful degree.
Fungal acne note: This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to isostearic acid (C18). Isostearic acid falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about PEG-20 Glyceryl TriisostearatePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about Ubiquinone
