What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientSchizandra Sphenanthera Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Coco-Caprylate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocoglycerides, Pentylene Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Schizandra Sphenanthera Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Maltodextrin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycosphingolipids, Citric Acid, Glycolipids
Alternatives
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.
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 AlcoholMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
