What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder
Abrasive
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder, Decyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 60, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Bakuchiol, Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Menthol
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantJojoba Esters
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Charcoal Powder, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Menthol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Menthyl Lactate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, CI 77499, Jojoba Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SePhenoxyethanol 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.
Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder is an exfoliant.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
