What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Iron Oxides
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Iron Oxides, Sodium Chloride, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingRose Flower Oil
Masking
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingDimethicone
Emollient
Polyquaternium-37
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSymphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningEthylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Isobutylparaben
Antimicrobial
Butylparaben
Masking
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Bud Extract, Ceteareth-20, Rose Flower Oil, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Pvp, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract, Xanthan Gum, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Methylparaben, Acer Saccharum Extract, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben
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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
