What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Magnesium Oxide
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
Oleth-20
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Zeolite
AbsorbentPolylactic Acid
Abrasive
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Menthol
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Papain
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Copper PCA
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Cera
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
CI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Oxide, Glycerin, Oleth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Zeolite, Polylactic Acid, Trihydroxystearin, Water, Mentha Piperita Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Squalane, Menthol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Zinc Oxide, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Papain, Bromelain, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Copper PCA, Dimethicone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Cera, Limonene, CI 77289, CI 42090, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
PEG-8
HumectantMagnesium Oxide
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
Oleth-20
CleansingTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Alaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol, Sodium Bicarbonate, PEG-8, Magnesium Oxide, Glycerin, Oleth-20, Trihydroxystearin, Silica, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Water, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 ingredient’s 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 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 StearateLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilWe don't have a description for Magnesium Oxide yet.
Oleth-20 comes from oleyl alcohol. It is an emulsifier that helps reduce surface tension of dirt and pollutants to be washed away.
The 20 stands for the average number of ethylene oxide units.
Sodium Bicarbonate has a more famous name: Baking soda.
In cosmetics, it is used to adjust the acidity. Due to its white crystalline solid form, it can also be an abrasive (exfoliator).
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium BicarbonateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateThis ingredient comes from Hydroxystearic Acid, a fatty acid, and glycerin. It is used to thicken oils.
Due to its fatty acid content, it is a natural emollient.
Creating trihydroxystearin involves using a chemical reaction between hydrogen and castor oil.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about TrihydroxystearinWater. 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
