What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLysolecithin
EmulsifyingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPullulan
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Squalene
Emollient
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C13-15 Alkane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Lysolecithin, Retinol, Phospholipids, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Silica, Beta-Sitosterol, Lactic Acid, Squalene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxyapatite, Retinal, Ectoin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Boron Nitride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, C9-12 Alkane, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Carbomer, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
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 ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetyl 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 AlcoholCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitratePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
