What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Octyldodecyl Oleate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Aroma
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Polysilicone-11
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitol
Humectant
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSolidago Virgaurea Extract
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-68
Bleaching
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Oleate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Isopentyldiol, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Aroma, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Bakuchiol, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Sorbitol, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Solidago Virgaurea Extract, Oligopeptide-68, Decyl Glucoside, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Oleate, Disodium EDTA, CI 77891, CI 16035, Mica, CI 17200, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Sulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Water, Decyl Glucoside, Isopropyl Myristate, Pentylene Glycol, Glycol Distearate, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, CI 14700
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 TriglycerideDecyl Glucoside is a plant-derived surfactant and emulsion stabilizer. It is created by reacting glucose with the fatty acids from plants.
Like all surfactants, it works by lowering the surface tension between water and oil. This makes it so that dirt, sebum, and makeup can be lifted off your skin and rinsed away. It also produces a dense and creamy foam.
Because it has a neutral charge, it is compatible with a wide range of ingredients and stays stable across a broad pH range/water hardiness conditions.
Patch testing has shown it to have the lowest irritation potential among common cleansing surfactants (like SLS).
Typical use levels range from 5-20% in rinse-off cleansers.
One thing worth knowing: The American Contact Dermatitis Society named the parent family, alkyl glucosides, "Allergen of the Year" in 2017. The prevalence of allergy is pretty low but be sure to patch test if you've reacted to "gentle" or sulfate-free cleansers before.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because the fatty alcohol portion of this ingredient is not within the C11-24 chain length that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Decyl GlucosideEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
