What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sucrose Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Laurate
Emollient
Sucrose Myristate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Water, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Kaolin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Myristate, Panthenol, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Citric Acid
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientEthylhexyl Pelargonate
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Isohexadecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Isododecane, Ethylhexyl Pelargonate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Retinol, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Pentylene Glycol, Water, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
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 TriglycerideEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate is the watery, nutrient-rich liquid left over after you ferment a yeast (genus Saccharomyces).
The yeast cells themselves are filtered out so you're getting the "broth" of skin-friendly molecules: amino acids, peptides, minerals, vitamins, organic acids, and beta-glucan.
Evidence-wise, its relatives (like Galactomyces) are the ones with the most published lab work. Keratinocyte studies show these ferments can boost barrier-related markers. This ingredient is generally assumed to behave similarly thanks to its overlapping composition.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its a fermentation filtrate. The exact composition is batch-variable and can include fatty acids and lipids byproducts.
Learn more about Saccharomyces Ferment FiltrateWater. 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
