What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-8
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Codium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, PEG-8, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethanolamine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Inulin, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCanola Oil
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTimonacic
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-40
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingBHA
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Fructan
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Pentylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Canola Oil, Cyclohexasiloxane, Panthenol, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Allantoin, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Timonacic, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Ziziphus Jujuba Seed Extract, Calcium Hydroxide, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-40, Polysilicone-11, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, BHA, Decyl Glucoside, Fructan, Citric Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidCaprylic/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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Sodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
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
