What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Panax Quinquefolius Root Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPropylene Carbonate
SolventTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Chloride, Silica, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Panax Quinquefolius Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Dimethicone Ethoxy Glucoside
Emulsifying
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Extract
Perfuming
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylyl Dimethicone Ethoxy Glucoside, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Squalane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Trihydroxystearin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mica, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
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 TriglycerideCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideThis ingredient is a preservative with antimicrobial properties. It is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid.
It is especially effective at preventing bacterial and fungal growth in low concentrations.
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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
