What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Ceteareth-20
CleansingDecyl Oleate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacin
SmoothingRice Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycogen
HumectantSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceteareth-20, Decyl Oleate, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacin, Rice Amino Acids, Glycine, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Glycogen, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice Extract
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice Extract, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Juice, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Olivate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Panthenol, Cetyl Palmitate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Polyglutamate, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Mica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, CI 77891
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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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 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
