What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingAcetyl Hexapeptide-37
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentapeptide-48
Skin Conditioning
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-37, Maltodextrin, Pentapeptide-48
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate-13
Polyisobutene
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingSpilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Calcium Pantothenate
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Silica
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Butylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Glucoside, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil, Triethanolamine, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Xanthan Gum, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Niacinamide, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Ubiquinone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glucose, Pyridoxine Hcl, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Silica, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/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 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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 Water
