What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Polysorbate 85
Emulsifying
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Camellia Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Fibronectin
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Ribes Grossularia Fruit Extract
MoisturisingRosa Rugosa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
CI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGlycosphingolipids
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, Polysorbate 85, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Camellia Seed Oil, Water, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Fibronectin, Bisabolol, Ribes Grossularia Fruit Extract, Rosa Rugosa Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, CI 16255, Glycerin, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Glycosphingolipids, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Glycolipids, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
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 TriglycerideCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPEG-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 TriisostearateSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. 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
