What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Lauryl Phosphate
SurfactantDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFructose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Sorbitol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Lauryl Phosphate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Fructose, Butylene Glycol, Phosphatidylcholine, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Collagen
Moisturising
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Aroma
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Collagen, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aroma, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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 AlcoholCI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 AcidTocopheryl 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
