What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCeramide Ag
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Cholesterol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrated Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Cholesterol, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Undecane
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Laurate
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Purpurea Root Extract
MoisturisingEchinacea Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Tridecane
Perfuming
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Undecane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lactobacillus, Parfum, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Laurate, Triethylhexanoin, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Tridecane, Glyceryl Oleate, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Farnesol, Hydroxycitronellal
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent that helps cosmetics stay fresh, stable, and consistent over time.
Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product. It also helps prevent the growth of unwanted microbes in products that contain water.
Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.
Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic AcidThis 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 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 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 StearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
