What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Phosphate
BufferingMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phosphate, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Canola Oil
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
HumectantPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSucrose Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitol
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlucose
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Citric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Dimethicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Canola Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Panthenol, Anhydroxylitol, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Sucrose Stearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitol, Maltodextrin, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Lactobacillus, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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 a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 PanthenolWater. 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