What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantParfum
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDodecane
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningBertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
PerfumingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPhytic Acid
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glycerin, Parfum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dodecane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phytic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Mica
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventDodecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Phytate
Bisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Dodecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Glycerin, Sodium Phytate, Bisabolol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide
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 TriglycerideThis 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 OilDodecane is a lightweight alkane hydrocarbon that functions as an emollient, texture enhancer, and fragrance.
According to a manufacturer, it evaporates fast on skin and leaves behind a non-greasy and velvety finish. This also helps other ingredients like UV filters and pigments distribute evenly.
In 2020, the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) reviewed dodecane and found it to clear all tests. The amount typically used in cosmetics is also well below the threshold where skin allergies would be a concern.
This ingredient can be sourced from either petroleum fractionation or plant-based feedstocks.
Learn more about DodecaneAcai oil is extracted from the pulp of the acai palm fruit. It is rich in phenolic compounds and fatty acids like oleic and palmitic acid.
Due to the presence of fatty acids, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
This plant is native to the Amazon rainforest.
Learn more about Euterpe Oleracea Fruit OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Parfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThis ingredient is also known as cupuacu butter. It is a plant butter made from the seeds of the cupuacu fruit and has skin conditioning properties.
Like other botanic butters, cupuacu butter works by reducing moisture loss and improving skin smoothness. Some research suggests it has an unusually high ability to interact with water in lab testing, which may help explain why products containing it can feel deeply hydrating.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated. However, those with very oily or clog-prone skin might prefer it in lighter formulations or lower concentrations.
Due to its fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, safe.
Please note: Fungal acne is not caused by pore clogging. It is caused by an overgrowth of the Malassezia yeast on the skin. This yeast feeds on certain fatty acids.
Learn more about Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed ButterWater. 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