What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientLecithin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSodium Phytate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHordeum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingOrmenis Multicaulis Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingCanola Oil
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Phytate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Linalool, Canola Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Water
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDecyl Oleate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
EmulsifyingRibose
HumectantRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantVanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingVanillin
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Decyl Oleate, Coco-Caprylate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Ribose, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Vanillin, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coco-Caprylate is created from fatty coconut alcohol and caprylic acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel. It may help solubilize other ingredients, or help other ingredients be dispersed evenly.
Coco-Caprylate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-CaprylateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 StearateLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Rosehip Oil is a non-fragrant plant oil. Rosehips are a fruit from a rose bush and are edible. This oil has skin conditioning and hydrating properties.
Rosehip contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, fatty acids and linolenic acids. These nourish your skin barrier. Having hydrated skin may help reduce the appearance of fine-lines and wrinkles.
Another great component of Rosehip Oil is Vitamin A, or retinol. Vitamin A encourages your skin to create more collagen.
Rosehip oil may help with reducing pigmentation. The lycopene and beta-carotene have skin-lightening properties. However, more studies are needed to confirm this.
Learn more about Rosa Canina Fruit OilSesame oil comes from sesame seeds. Sesame oil is rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E.
It has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The phenolic compounds of this ingredient (including vitamin E) give it these properties.
Unrefined sesame oil has a comedogenic rating of 3, while refined sesame oil has a rating of 1. This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
The fatty acids in sesame oil include linoleic acid (41%), oleic acid (39%), palmitic acid (8%), stearic acid (5%), and some small traces of others.
Learn more about Sesamum Indicum Seed OilTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter comes from the Theobroma cacoa, or Cacao tree. Cacao trees are native to tropical landscapes.
Like other plant butters, Cacao seed butter is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture in, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.
Cacao seed butter contains antioxidants known as polyphenols. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules by stabilizing them. Unstable free-radicals may cause damage to your skin cells. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging.
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter can be bad for acne prone skin.
Learn more about Theobroma Cacao Seed ButterWater. 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