What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycolic Acid 4%
BufferingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSalicylic Acid 2%
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientSodium Glycolate
BufferingQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingLactic Acid 1%
BufferingSodium Salicylate
PreservativeCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil 0.97%
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid 4%, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid 2%, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Sodium Glycolate, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Lactic Acid 1%, Sodium Salicylate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil 0.97%
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWater. 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