What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Pyrithione 0.5%
AntiseborrhoeicWater
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantPEG-180
HumectantAmodimethicone
Cetyl Esters
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Phosphate
BufferingCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
AntimicrobialDisodium Phosphate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingZinc Pyrithione 0.5%, Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, PEG-180, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Trideceth-6, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Polynaphthalenesulfonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Disodium Phosphate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cetrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Polysorbate 60, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCocos Nucifera Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientLaureth-2
CleansingC9-12 Alkane
SolventGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Squalane, Cocos Nucifera Seed Butter, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Laureth-2, C9-12 Alkane, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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 AlcoholIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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