What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientTripelargonin
EmollientInulin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingFructose
HumectantUrea
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantInositol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Squalane, Tripelargonin, Inulin, Panthenol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Arginine, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Saccharide Isomerate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Allantoin, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Inositol, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Algae
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSilk
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSilicon
AbrasiveWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
AbrasiveCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientC13-14 Alkane
SolventMaltodextrin
AbsorbentCetyl Palmitate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCoenochloris Signiensis Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Benzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingAlgae, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Silk, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Silicon, Water, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, C13-14 Alkane, Maltodextrin, Cetyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Sorbitan Palmitate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Oleate, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Xanthan Gum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Lecithin, Parfum, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Linalool, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
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 AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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