What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMagnesium Sulfate
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
PEG-6 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arachis Hypogaea Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Carbonate
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantNymphaea Lotus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHesperetin Laurate
Antioxidant
Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Diacetyl Boldine
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Benzaldehyde
Masking
Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Magnesium Sulfate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Isostearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Retinyl Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arachis Hypogaea Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Carnosine, Propylene Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Nymphaea Lotus Flower Extract, Hesperetin Laurate, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Diacetyl Boldine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzaldehyde
Water
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Polysilicone-11
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventLaureth-12
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Gluconate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Laureth-12, Silica, Sodium Gluconate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 77007
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneThis ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateTocopherol 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
