What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Behenyl Alcohol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Candida/Garcinia Cambogia Ferment, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Allantoin, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Tapioca Starch
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Tapioca Starch, Dicaprylyl Ether, C15-19 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Polyglycerin-6, Sorbitan Oleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantolactone, Tocopherol
Reviews
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
