What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButyrospermum Parkii Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingGold
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCI 77820
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77400
Cosmetic ColorantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Squalane, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Gold, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 77820, CI 77400
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Coconut Oil
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientHydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCorylus Avellana Seed Oil
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAmmonium Lactate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Silica, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Glycine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Dimethiconol, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Mica, CI 77891, Ammonium Lactate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopherol 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 Tocopherol