What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventHexyldecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantTasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriolein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentBisabolol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMyristic Acid
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Stearic Acid
CleansingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Propanediol, Hexyldecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Triolein, Maltodextrin, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Myristic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum
Octocrylene 10%
UV AbsorberZinc Oxide 10.13%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientChrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Octocrylene 10%, Zinc Oxide 10.13%, Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Isohexadecane, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tetrasodium EDTA
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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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