What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Mannitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Rhamnose
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Beeswax, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Allantoin, Sodium PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Squalane, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diglycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, CI 77891, Chlorphenesin, Mica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Maltodextrin, Asiaticoside, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, CI 77491, Silica, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Lactic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Tocopherol, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AlcoholGlyceryl 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 StearateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
