What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientStearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
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
AstringentPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Benzaldehyde
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Stearalkonium Chloride, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, 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, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Arginine, Lactic Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Benzaldehyde, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Juice
CleansingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Amodimethicone
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG-7 Propylheptyl Ether
Emulsion StabilisingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Dimethicone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Parfum, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Amodimethicone, Sodium Gluconate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, PEG-7 Propylheptyl Ether, Cetrimonium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool
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 a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic 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 Water
