What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Polyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Trehalose
Humectant
Trimethoxybenzylidene Pentanedione
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Lecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octocrylene, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Laureth-7, Oryza Sativa Extract, Trehalose, Trimethoxybenzylidene Pentanedione, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Kaolin, Propanediol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Glycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-100 Stearate
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
PEG-40 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Methicone
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
BHA
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Decyl Glucoside, Chlorphenesin, Hydrated Silica, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Methicone, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Potassium Phosphate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, BHA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
