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 ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Phytate
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Hypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Sulfate
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Chloride
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Formaldehyde
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Alumina, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Lactic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Zea Mays Starch, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Alcohol, Allantoin, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Phytate, Ascorbic Acid, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Yeast Extract, Ammonium Sulfate, Lauryl Alcohol, Ammonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Formaldehyde, 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 TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic 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
