What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Triceteareth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
PEG-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Isohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclopentasiloxane, CI 77891, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Octyldodecanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Glycol Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-2 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Palmitic Acid, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-6, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Oleic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77947
Dimethicone
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Lanolin
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, CI 77891, CI 77947, Dimethicone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Lanolin, Petrolatum, Allantoin, Ceteareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
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 AlcoholCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Snail Secretion Filtrate is the excretion from snails. It is an effective moisturizer and promotes collagen production.
A popular nickname for this ingredient is 'Snail Mucin'.
Snail mucin has numerous skin benefits:
On top of this, Snail Secretion Filtrate contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. These include copper peptides, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals that damage skin cells.
Being cruelty-free means a brand does not experiment on animals.
If you're worried about the well-being of the snails, we recommend looking more into the company of the product. Many brands have developed humane methods to collect snail mucin.
There is much debate on this subject. On one hand, this ingredient comes from an animal. On the other hand, many will argue the ingredient is naturally secreted (like a natural by-product) and therefore vegan. If you have reservations, you can look into Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract as alternatives.
Learn more about Snail Secretion FiltrateWater. 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
