Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Brightening Day Protection Cream SPF 15 Versus Cetaphil Rich Night Cream
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Cicer Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingRhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Water, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Anhydroxylitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Cicer Seed Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Rhododendron Chrysanthum Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Lycopene
Antioxidant
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Methicone, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Linoleic Acid, Lycopene, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Tocopheryl Acetate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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, 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Olivate is a plant-derived emulsifier and texture enhancer. It helps keep the oil and water phases from separating so your formulas stay stable.
You'll likely see it combined with Sorbitan Olivate (together sold as the trade name Olivem 1000). This combination generates a liquid crystal structure that closely resemble the lipid organization of the stratum corneum.
These "skin-like" liquid crystals improve skin barrier integrity and promote the delivery of actives into the skin.
This ingredient is well-tolerated and has no significant sensitization data.
Because it is derived from the fatty acids in olive oil, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateWater. 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
