What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Urea
Buffering
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Uridine Phosphate
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningWater, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Urea, Octocrylene, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Tocopherol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cholesterol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, Lecithin, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Oleate, Propanediol, Ethyl Ferulate, Polyglyceryl-5 Trioleate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Uridine Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Isotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
Masking
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Water, Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Methicone, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Jojoba Esters, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl 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 StearateNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate is a lightweight synthetic emollient that also helps improve how a product feels and spreads.
In a formula, it's a workhorse that:
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics and found to be a non-ocular (eye) irritant at 100% in rabbits.
Usage levels vary depending on product type; industry surveys report it around 2.2% in baby products, 19.5% in hair sprays, and 1-20% in skincare.
Learn more about Neopentyl Glycol DiheptanoatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
