What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Squalene
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
PCA
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycine Hcl
BufferingThreonine
Arginine
Masking
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium EDTA
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Betaine, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Squalene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lactate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PCA, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Serine, Alanine, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Proline, Trisodium EDTA
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
O-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Water, Propanediol, Sucrose Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Bisabolol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sucrose Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Limonene, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
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
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 ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlycerin (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 GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPropanediol 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 PropanediolJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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
