What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Propanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSodium Carbonate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Linoleic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Linolenic Acid, Adenosine, Beta-Glucan, Quercetin, Allantoin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
C9-12 Alkane
SolventStearic Acid
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Kaolin
Abrasive
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Pei-10
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingFructan
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Spirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingCI 75300
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Chloride
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantMaltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Malachite Extract
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingC13-15 Alkane
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingParfum
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, C9-12 Alkane, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Kaolin, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Squalane, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylresorcinol, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Pei-10, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Chloride, Fructan, Maltodextrin, Spirulina Maxima Extract, CI 75300, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Arginine, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Malachite Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polyisobutene, Pvp, C13-15 Alkane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Parfum, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl 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 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
