What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer
Urea
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Propanediol, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Squalane, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Trehalose, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Butyl Avocadate, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ergothioneine, Cetearyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Polyquaternium-51, Acacia Senegal Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer, Urea, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, CI 19140, CI 16035
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
