What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Diethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Iron Oxides
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Isododecane
EmollientEthylene/Methacrylate Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Chromium Oxide Greens
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Fragaria Vesca Leaf Extract
AstringentDisodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Sodium Glycerophosphate
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientPotassium Magnesium Aspartate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Magnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Beeswax, Glycerin, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Niacinamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Panthenol, Diglycerin, Iron Oxides, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Isododecane, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Chromium Oxide Greens, Triethyl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Fragaria Vesca Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Alcohol, Asiaticoside, Adenosine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Boron Nitride, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Propanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Polysorbate 20, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Sodium Glycerophosphate, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Potassium Magnesium Aspartate, Citric Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Madecassoside, Magnesium Gluconate, Centella Asiatica Meristem Cell Culture, Xanthan Gum, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cellulose
Absorbent
Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Silica, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cellulose, Syzygium Luehmannii Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Levulinate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Anisate, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, CI 77891
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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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
