What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Polyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-7
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Arvensis Callus Lysate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Redensyl
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-7, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Panthenol, Mentha Arvensis Callus Lysate, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Redensyl, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDistearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Tropaeolum Majus Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
Masking
Oligopeptide-177
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Masking
Water, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Erythritol, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Sorbic Acid, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Sodium Chloride, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 Panthenol
