What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningBrassica Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBrassicyl Valinate Esylate
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin ConditioningSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Seedcoat Powder
PerfumingSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Carrot Protein/Hydrolyzed Kale Protein/Hydrolyzed Lemon Protein Extract
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArthrospira Platensis Extract
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Brassica Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Brassicyl Valinate Esylate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Water, Panthenol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seedcoat Powder, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Powder, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Hydrolyzed Carrot Protein/Hydrolyzed Kale Protein/Hydrolyzed Lemon Protein Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Arthrospira Platensis Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentGlycerin
HumectantLecithin
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialLevulinic Acid
PerfumingLactic Acid
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Coco-Glucoside, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Glycerin, Lecithin, Alcohol, Levulinic Acid, Lactic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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