What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Santalum Album Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAmyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Glucose
Humectant
Geraniol
Perfuming
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Vanillin
Masking
Methyl Benzoate
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Maltodextrin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Betaine, Distarch Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sclerotium Gum, Linalool, Limonene, Sodium Chloride, Amyl Salicylate, Linalyl Acetate, Glucose, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Benzoic Acid, Vanillin, Methyl Benzoate
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 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
