What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Milk
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Kaolin
Abrasive
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Powder
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Serine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Milk, Glutathione, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Glycerin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Kaolin, Mandelic Acid, Oryza Sativa Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Arginine, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Serine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Sucrose Stearate, Citric Acid, Ceramide NP, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ng, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Honey
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantOryza Sativa Hull Powder
Abrasive
Isononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran
Abrasive
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Honey Extract
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSodium Phytate
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Water, Kaolin, Honey, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa Bran, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Honey Extract, Bentonite, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Cellulose, Zea Mays Starch, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate-13, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sodium Phytate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Menthyl Lactate
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
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 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 StearateKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinWater. 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
