What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingVanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Coco-Caprylate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Jasminum Officinale Flower Water
MaskingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Flower, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Water, Panthenol, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceCaprylic/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 TriglycerideGlycerin (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 StearateThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilStearic 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 AcidTocopherol 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
