What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingTocotrienols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSqualene
EmollientArginine
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHexamidine Diisethionate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C14-22 Alcohols, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Squalene, Arginine, Beta-Sitosterol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hexamidine Diisethionate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, T-Butyl Alcohol, CI 15985, CI 19140, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingIsocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantBenzoic Acid
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Benzoic Acid, Beta-Sitosterol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, C14-22 Alcohols, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Beta-Sitosterol is a plant-derived fatty acid with a structure similar to cholesterol (which naturally occurs in skin). It helps hydrate the skin and stabilize formulations.
This ingredient can be naturally found in fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds.
We don't have a description for C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside yet.
C14-22 Alcohols is made up of synthetic fatty alcohols. More specifically, these fatty alcohols contain 14 to 22 carbons in the alkyl chain.
Its main purpose is to stabilize products. As an emulsifier, it helps prevent waters and oils from separating.
Due to this ingredient having a similar composition to cetearyl alcohol, this ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis safe. However, the risk is low and has been only shown by a single study, so SkinSort does not currently flag C14-22 Alcohols as a fungal acne trigger.
Learn more about C14-22 AlcoholsThis 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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 ParfumWater. 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