What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientSucrose Laurate
Emollient
Sucrose Myristate
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Kaolin
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Myristate, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Kaolin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Buteth-3
SolventSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberTributyl Citrate
SolventEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Wax, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Buteth-3, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Tributyl Citrate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
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 TriglycerideEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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 WaterZea Mays Germ Oil comes from corn.
It is an occlusive skin conditioning agent.
