What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Rutinyl Succinate
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventSiloxanetriol Alginate
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Planktonic Exopolysaccharide 3
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPropyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingGallyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSilanetriol
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Algae Extract
EmollientPfaffia Paniculata Root Extract
SoothingPtychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Angustifolia Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Rutinyl Succinate, Methylpropanediol, Siloxanetriol Alginate, Caffeine, Glycerin, Planktonic Exopolysaccharide 3, Butylene Glycol, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Propyl Gallate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Gallyl Glucoside, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Niacinamide, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Silanetriol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Behenic Acid, Algae Extract, Pfaffia Paniculata Root Extract, Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Stem Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Meristem Cell Culture, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Hexylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Triethyl Citrate, Lactic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ectoin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCeteth-20
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningPhytonadione Epoxide
AstringentHydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Bark Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Pinanediol
Skin ConditioningCamphanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ceteth-20, Propanediol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Phytonadione Epoxide, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Aesculus Hippocastanum Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Pinanediol, Camphanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl 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 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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateWater. 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
