What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Sucrose
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
Masking
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tribehenin
Emollient
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientSpilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Sucrose, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Farnesol, PEG-100 Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Tribehenin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Squalane, Linoleic Acid, Caffeine, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Linolenic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isostearic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 60, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Carbomer, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77163, CI 77288, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Erythritol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract
HumectantHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCyclohexane
SolventEthyl Acetate
Perfuming
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Caprylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Propanediol, Erythritol, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Cyclohexane, Ethyl Acetate, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Reviews
Alternatives
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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlyceryl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
