What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Cetearyl Olivate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
Arginine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Phenylalanine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Tricaprylin
Perfuming
C13-14 Alkane
SolventC15-23 Alkane
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Retinol, Mandelic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Propanediol, Arginine, Alanine, Valine, Isoleucine, Glycine, Serine, Threonine, Histidine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Sodium PCA, PCA, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acetyl Glutamine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Decyl Glucoside, Tricaprylin, C13-14 Alkane, C15-23 Alkane, Lecithin, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Silica Silylate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tapioca Starch
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientHelichrysum Italicum Flower Oil
Masking
Helichrysum Italicum Flower/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Magnesium Hydroxide
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tapioca Starch, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower/Stem Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Adenosine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Hexylresorcinol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Magnesium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Citral, Coumarin
Alternatives
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 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol 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
