What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningTrihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMagnesium Sulfate
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Pullulan
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, CI 77891, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triheptanoin, Trihydroxystearin, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydroxyacetophenone, C9-12 Alkane, CI 77288, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Pullulan, Propanediol, Glycerin, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, CI 75810, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Bacillus Ferment, Dunaliella Salina Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingOleic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate is a plant-derived, PEG-free emulsifier.
It's made by hooking isostearic acid onto a chain of glycerin units to give it a water-loving "head" and oil-loving "tail". This allows it to keep the oil and water mixed in a formula.
The highest reported concentration is about 24% in eye makeup but most suppliers recommend a level below 10%.
It has a clean track record for safety and found to be non-irritating.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, Malassezia can potentially metabolize it (it sits in the C11-24 range that Malassezia likes). Therefore, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-4 IsostearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
