What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No 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 ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingIngredients 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%.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcellulosePhenoxyethanol 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