What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentNiacinamide
SmoothingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientBixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristic Acid
Cleansing2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Zea Mays Starch, Niacinamide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Myristyl Myristate, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Capryloyl Glycine, Caprylyl Glycol, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMannitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantRhamnose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
HumectantLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Beeswax, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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