What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Vinegar
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearalkonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Vinegar, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Arginine, Lactic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Tropaeolum Majus Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingVaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Zea Mays Starch, Glycine Soja Oil, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl 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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
