What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPentaerythrityl Distearate
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMannitol
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Betaine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ceramide NP, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Adenosine, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningParachlorella Beijerinckii Exopolysaccharides
Skin ProtectingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningDipeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
MaskingTribehenin
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingPfaffia Paniculata Root Extract
SoothingPtychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Phospholipids
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
AntioxidantSteareth-20
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Parachlorella Beijerinckii Exopolysaccharides, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Dipeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Tribehenin, Ceramide Ng, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Pfaffia Paniculata Root Extract, Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark/Stem Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Ceteareth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Aminomethyl Propanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Steareth-20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate
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 AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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