What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Water, Isopentyldiol, Jojoba Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Retinol, Squalane, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Glycine Soja Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ergothioneine
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Urea, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, C15-19 Alkane, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Citric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tocopherol
Reviews
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 an 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.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
