What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantUlva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Lecithin, Phospholipids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sorbitol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthyl Olivate
EmollientOlive Oil Ethylhexyl Esters
Glycerin
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantWater, Ethyl Olivate, Olive Oil Ethylhexyl Esters, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Myristate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polysorbate 80, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-6, Sorbitan Laurate, Ceramide AP, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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