What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Brassica Napus Seedcake Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Quartz
Abrasive
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Bentonite
Absorbent
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Glucose
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Brassica Napus Seedcake Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Caffeine, Allantoin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Quartz, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Arginine, Bentonite, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Esters, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Glucose, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Limonene
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Hyssopus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Impatiens Balsamina Flower Extract
AstringentPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eugenol
Perfuming
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sorbitan Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Dicaprylyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Limonene, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Hyssopus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Rose Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Impatiens Balsamina Flower Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Eugenol
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 TriglycerideCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateTocopherol 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
