What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBis-Stearyl Dimethicone
EmollientMyristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningTrimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningArctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialNannochloropsis Oculata Extract
HumectantAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPentapeptide-76 Amide
Butylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteareth-20
CleansingSorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice
Skin ConditioningSclareolide
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyisobutene
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrated Silica
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Myristyl Nicotinate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate/Tricaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Behenyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Adenosine, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nannochloropsis Oculata Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Glycine Soja Oil, Pentapeptide-76 Amide, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-20, Sorghum Bicolor Stalk Juice, Sclareolide, Pentylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyisobutene, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, Hydrated Silica, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pullulan, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Laurate, Tocopherol, PEG-40 Stearate, Parfum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventEthyl Oleate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveHydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
MaskingBacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingMagnesium Chloride
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSecale Cereale Seed Extract
AbrasiveSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Ethyl Oleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Silica, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Bacillus Ferment, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Levulinic Acid, Magnesium Chloride, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Phytate, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool
Reviews
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 TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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