What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientKinetin
Skin ConditioningZeatin
Skin ConditioningPolyurethane-40
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrochloric Acid
BufferingWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Ethoxydiglycol, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Disodium EDTA, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Kinetin, Zeatin, Polyurethane-40, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrochloric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Octapeptide-45
Skin Conditioning
Swertia Chirata Extract
HumectantMagnolol
Antioxidant
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Polyisobutene
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
P-Anisic Acid
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyacrylate-13, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-38, Octapeptide-45, Swertia Chirata Extract, Magnolol, Ornithine, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ergothioneine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Glycolipids, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Stearic Acid, Betaine, Squalane, Lecithin, Caprylyl Methicone, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 20, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polyisobutene, Potassium Sorbate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, P-Anisic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
