What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-100 Stearate
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycereth-26, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Adenosine, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol Dicaprylate
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Linoleate
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Algae Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
Buffering
Sucrose Laurate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Algae Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 77288, Lactic Acid, Sucrose Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Stearate, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate
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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
