What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Distarch Phosphate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide 10.5%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Lecithin
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Zinc Oxide 10.5%, Water, Cyclomethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Stearate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, Squalane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lecithin, Retinol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20
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
