What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzophenone-3 6%
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentCetearyl Olivate
Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzophenone-3 6%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 1%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Corn Starch Modified, Cetearyl Olivate, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Gluconolactone, Squalane, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter
Emollient
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water, Zinc Oxide, Coco-Caprylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter, Ethyl Ferulate, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Bisabolol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
