What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventStearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Jojoba Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Flower, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Jojoba Oil, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Squalane, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol
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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsopropyl Palmitate is a texture enhancer and emollient. It is an ester of isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
Palmitates are emollients. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier that traps moisture in.
When added to cosmetics, Isopropyl Palmitate creates a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Isopropyl Palmitate may not be fungal acne safe. It can worsen acne prone skin.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
