What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Amodimethicone
Parfum
Masking
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingEthanolamine
BufferingPolyquaternium-37
Limonene
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
EDTA
Rosa Canina Flower Extract
AstringentWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Ethanolamine, Polyquaternium-37, Limonene, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Trideceth-6, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Linalool, Citronellol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, EDTA, Rosa Canina Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer
Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cistus Ladaniferus Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Coceth-7
EmulsifyingCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylheptenal
Perfuming
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil
Masking
Gamma-Nonalactone
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hexenyl Acetate
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Ionone
Astringent
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSqualane
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Vanillin
Masking
Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Isoceteth-20, Isohexadecane, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sorbitan Oleate, Isoamyl Laurate, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Cistus Ladaniferus Leaf/Stem Extract, Citric Acid, Coceth-7, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Dimethylheptenal, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil, Gamma-Nonalactone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hexenyl Acetate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ionone, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Panthenol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Squalane, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Vanillin, Viola Odorata Flower/Leaf Extract
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Alternatives
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSorbitan Oleate is a PEG-free emulsifier made by esterifying sorbitol with oleic acid.
You'll likely see it paired with Polysorbate 80 to create the right emulsification balance.
Typical use levels in formulas range from 2-10%.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as a cosmetic ingredient.
Since this ingredient is an ester of oleic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Oleic acid is a fatty acid that falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Sorbitan OleateWater. 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
