What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Nonanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPEG-20
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Barley Protein
Skin ConditioningPotassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Oat Protein
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeIsobutylparaben
AntimicrobialButylparaben
MaskingPropylparaben
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Nonanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-20, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Bisabolol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingStearic Acid
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientGlycol Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydroxystearic Acid
CleansingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTriethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPropylparaben
PreservativeStearamide Amp
Disodium EDTA
Arachidic Acid
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycol Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Petrolatum, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxystearic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hexylresorcinol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Parfum, Carbomer, Propylparaben, Stearamide Amp, Disodium EDTA, Arachidic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, BHT, Tocopherol
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 TriglycerideCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlyceryl 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 StearateMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. In cosmetics, it is usually created by reacting para-aminobenzoic acid and propanol (an alcohol).
You can usually find this ingredient in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Propylparaben is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
Learn more about PropylparabenTocopherol 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