What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Petrolatum
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Ceteth-20
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Esters
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Octanal
Perfuming
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingBlue 1 Lake
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Laureth-23, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceteth-20, Cetearyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl Esters, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf/Stem Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylene Brassylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Menthol, Octanal, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Phytosterols, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethanolamine, Blue 1 Lake
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Squalane
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Squalane, C14-22 Alcohols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Salix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractWater. 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
