What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C13-15 Alkane
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningCocoglycerides
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientTroxerutin
Skin ConditioningCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
AntioxidantOctyldodecanol
EmollientCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMalic Acid
BufferingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropylene Carbonate
SolventStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantC13-15 Alkane, Water, Cocoglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Troxerutin, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Diisostearyl Malate, Gluconolactone, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Maltodextrin, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Octyldodecanol, Calcium Gluconate, Malic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Tocopherol, Astaxanthin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Carbonate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, CI 77491
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSynthetic Wax
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-2 Oleate
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingAnemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantRetinol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Mononucleotide
AntioxidantAdenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningAlkanna Tinctoria Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-10
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-3
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-59
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Microcrystalline Wax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Adenosine, Sodium DNA, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Water, Caffeine, Collagen, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Oil, Propanediol, Glycerin, Retinol, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Adenosine Triphosphate, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-10, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-59, Sh-Polypeptide-9
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 TriglycerideDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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