What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Mel
EmollientTetrapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyectoin
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Mel, Tetrapeptide-14, Ceramide EOP, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Ectoin, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Bisabolol, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Hydroxyectoin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Adenosine, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Aminomethyl Propanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Isohexadecane, Polysilicone-11, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningAlmond/Borage/Linseed/Olive Acids/Glycerides
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Water, Almond/Borage/Linseed/Olive Acids/Glycerides, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Jojoba Esters, Oryza Sativa Starch, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tocopherol, Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Dehydroacetic Acid, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
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 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 StearateHelianthus 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 OilRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid. Rosemarinic acid, a compound found in rosemary leaf, has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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 Water
