What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Isohexadecane
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Isohexadecane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Synthetic Wax, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Salicylic Acid, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
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
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 GlycolThis 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 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 oil comes from the outer layer (bran) of rice grains. It is packed with skin-friendly fatty acids to soften and condition the skin while supporting your moisture barrier.
What makes it stand out from other plant oils is its naturally high concentration of gamma-oryzanol, a potent antioxidant. This antioxidant has shown some UV-absorptive properties in research.
Other antioxidants found in this oil include tocopherols, tocotrienols, and ferulic acid.
According to manufacturers, this oil has a lightweight texture that absorbs nicely.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics and it has not shown to be a skin sensitizer in testing (unless you have a known rice allergy).
Due to the fatty acids (primarily Oleic Acid ~40%, Linoleic Acid ~30%, and some Palmitic Acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran OilJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSorbitan Sesquioleate is derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It is an emulsifier and prevents ingredients from separating.
Specifically, this ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier, meaning it helps water dissolve into oil.
Some studies suggest this ingredient may cause irritation in some people. If you are unsure, it is best to patch test.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan SesquioleateSynthetic Wax is created from fossil fuels such as natural gas. It is used to enhance texture, adjust pH, and as an occlusive.
It may also be used as an abrasive ingredient to exfoliate the skin.
Synthetic Wax may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. 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
