What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingMyristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningMethyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate
Skin ProtectingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTropolone
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Methyl Caprooyl Tyrosinate, Phytosterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Lactate
EmollientLinoleic Acid
CleansingIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingBisabolol
AntioxidantLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract
Lecithin
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Linolenic Acid
CleansingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaprylic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Carbonate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingUbiquinone
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Octyldodecyl Lactate, Linoleic Acid, Isostearyl Isostearate, Sorbitan Laurate, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Capryloyl Glycine, Oleic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Propanediol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Arachidyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Bisabolol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract, Lecithin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Linolenic Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Ubiquinone, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololThis ingredient is a lightweight 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. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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