What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Niacinamide, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate
Mentha Piperita Oil
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Fruit Juice
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Dilaurate, Mentha Piperita Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerThis 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 OilEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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