What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Stearyl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Acid
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Urea, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Beeswax, Stearyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Palm Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Oleic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Dna
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Salmon Egg Extract
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Dextrin
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Propanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Dna, Madecassoside, Salmon Egg Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Maltodextrin, Dextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis 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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateStearic 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 AcidWater. 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
