What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningJuglans Regia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBenzoic Acid
Masking
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tapioca Starch, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Juglans Regia Seed Extract, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Mannitol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Benzoic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingAstrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopentyldiol, Glyceryl Stearate, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Squalane, Collagen Amino Acids, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Heptyl Undecylenate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 77891
Reviews
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 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
