What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Panax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingPEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Polyacrylamide
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Retinol 0.1%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
BHA
Antioxidant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Collagen
Moisturising
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tetrahydropiperine
Skin ConditioningPhloretin
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, BHT, Cyclopentasiloxane, Steareth-21, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Steareth-2, Isohexadecane, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tromethamine, Palmitic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Stearic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Retinol 0.1%, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glycosyl Trehalose, Beta-Glucan, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Laureth-7, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Adenosine, Raffinose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, BHA, Myristic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Collagen, Madecassic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Asiaticoside, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Asiatic Acid, Glutathione, Retinal, Madecassoside, Sodium Phosphate, Ferulic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tetrahydropiperine, Phloretin, Arginine, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cipadessa Baccifera Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBergenia Ligulata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Propylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Paraffin, Steareth-2, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cipadessa Baccifera Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Bergenia Ligulata Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Imidazolidinyl Urea
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTASteareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol. The 2 stands for the number of ethylene oxide units used to create this ingredient.
Due to the low degree of ethoxylation, the molecule stays mostly oil-loving. That's why you'll often see it paired with water-loving steareth-20 or steareth-21 to create elegant emulsions.
In testing, this ingredient was nontoxic in acute oral studies and not a skin irritant or sensitizer.
You might hear concerns about 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation; this is well-known in the industry and is controlled through purification steps before the ingredient is blended into finished products.
Learn more about Steareth-2Steareth-21 is a nonionic emulsifier made by reacting stearyl alcohol with 21 units of ethylene oxide. It is mainly a cleansing agent and emulsifier.
The "21" in the name just tells you it has a longer water-loving chain. This makes it more gentle and less likely to irritate skin compared to lower-numbered steareths.
You'll most likely see it paired with steareth-2 because the two work together to create stable formulations.
1,4-dioxane is often brought up as a concern but this is usually removed through purification.
Learn more about Steareth-21Tocopheryl 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 AcetateWater. 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
