What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningJuglans Regia Shell Powder
AbrasiveCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhytelephas Aequatorialis Seed Powder
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Linoleate
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingGlyceryl Linolenate
EmollientHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phytelephas Aequatorialis Seed Powder, Decyl Glucoside, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Linoleate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Linolenate, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Pumice
AbrasiveWater
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSorbitol
HumectantColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingBisabolol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Coconut Acid
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingSteareth-21
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Isethionate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialEDTA
Pumice, Water, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lactic Acid, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sorbitol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Tocopherol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-20, Steareth-21, Myristic Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, EDTA
Reviews
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.
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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic 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 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