What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8 Stearate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Eugenol
Perfuming
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
Polycaprolactone
StabilisingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Poloxamer 188
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentMethylparaben
Preservative
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Synthetic Wax, Cyclopentasiloxane, Lecithin, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Eugenol, Ethylparaben, Triethanolamine, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Palmitic Acid, Silica, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Polycaprolactone, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Poloxamer 188, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Methylparaben, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Octyldodecanol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Myristate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Myristyl Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Myristic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinPalmitic 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 AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic 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
