What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantOpuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Polyacrylate-13
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
AbsorbentPolyisobutene
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Zinc PCA, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylate-13, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Polyisobutene, Maltodextrin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cellulose
Absorbent
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Powder
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bromelain
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Phytate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cellulose, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bromelain, Papain, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycolipids, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Corn Oil, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Lactate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Sodium Phytate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Parfum, Eugenol, CI 40800, CI 14700
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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
