What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate
Emulsifying
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
N-Capryloyl Lysine
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Carnitine
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pullulan
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Phytic Acid
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Triacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Cholesterol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, N-Capryloyl Lysine, Jojoba Esters, Carnitine, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Carnosine, Caffeine, Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol, Pullulan, Caprylyl Methicone, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Silica, Lecithin, Phytic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Triacetin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Stearyl/PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, PEG-8, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Hexylresorcinol, Stearyl/PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Dimer Dilinoleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arbutin, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Ergothioneine, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propyl Gallate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 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 TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
