What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Algae Extract
EmollientArginine
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientSucrose
Humectant
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Algae Extract, Arginine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sucrose, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Panthenol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Cetyl Esters, Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningC15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Shea Butterate
Emollient
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dodecane
Emollient
Hexadecane
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Shea Butterate, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dodecane, Hexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
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 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 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
