What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Bentonite
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Malic Acid
Buffering
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Clementina Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Malus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Rubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCarrageenan
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Fragaria Vesca Seed
AstringentGlucose
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Lactobacillus/Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isomalt
HumectantVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Bentonite, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Uliginosum Berry Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Clementina Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Rubus Occidentalis Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Carrageenan, Potassium Sorbate, Fragaria Vesca Seed, Glucose, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Phytate, Lactobacillus/Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Ferment Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isomalt, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Mirabilis Jalapa Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Oxidized Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract
MaskingLitchi Chinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAcetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBHT
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Isohexadecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-21, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Oxidized Corn Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cera Alba, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ceteareth-20, Behenyl Alcohol, Parfum, Ceteareth-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbitan Laurate, Disodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Silica, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Citric Acid, CI 77891, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Biotin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, 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.
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
