What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientRibose
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingErythritol
HumectantChondrus Crispus
MaskingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPhenethyl Alcohol
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
SmoothingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ribose, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Erythritol, Chondrus Crispus, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Phenethyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Sodium Citrate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Glycine Soja Sterols, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Palmitate
EmollientHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHypericum Perforatum Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPoria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingCeteareth-20
CleansingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Phragmites Karka Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Hypericum Perforatum Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Poria Cocos Extract, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ceteareth-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ceteareth-20, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 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 StearateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopheryl 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