What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOlive Oil PEG-7 Esters
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentJojoba Esters
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingFusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantJuniperus Communis Fruit Oil
MaskingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantFarnesol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Tocopherol, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Farnesol, Limonene, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSteareth-21
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Tetrasodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentSorbic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Glycine Soja Oil, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-21, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate-13, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyisobutene, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caramel, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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