What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Propylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveSodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
EmulsifyingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingSodium Surfactin
CleansingSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLauric Acid
CleansingPropylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Stearate, Propanediol, Parfum, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Silica, Sodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium Surfactin, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Glyceryl Laurate, Linalool, Sodium Anisate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lauric Acid
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 also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilGlycerin (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 Glycerin