What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPumice
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Stearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCocos Nucifera Shell Powder
AbrasiveVolcanic Sand
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSorbitol
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Pumice, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cocos Nucifera Shell Powder, Volcanic Sand, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sorbitol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lauryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientDodecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSpondias Mombin Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Dodecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract, Musa Sapientum Pulp Extract, Mangifera Indica Pulp Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylene Brassylate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, CI 17200, CI 19140
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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