What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Betaine, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Palmitic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trideceth-10, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Seed Water
Antimicrobial
Avena Sativa Meal Extract
SoothingCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, PEG-10 Isostearate, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Avena Sativa Meal Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Water, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
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 GlycolCaprylic/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 ingredientās 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās 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
