What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Behenyl Behenate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behenyl Behenate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glyceryl Caprylate, Mica, CI 77891, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Vp/Va Copolymer
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-73
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cereus Grandiflorus Extract
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhalaenopsis Amabilis Flower Extract
BleachingHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Propanediol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Dimethicone, Vp/Va Copolymer, Ceteareth-20, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-73, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cereus Grandiflorus Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Phalaenopsis Amabilis Flower Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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 AlcoholTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
