What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Water
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Avena Sativa Seed Water
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Sulfate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
CI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45350
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Curcuma Longa Root Water, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Avena Sativa Seed Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Octyldodecanol, Xanthan Gum, Dicaprylyl Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Sucrose Cocoate, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, CI 15510, CI 45350
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCoconut Alkanes
Emollient
Alcohol Denat. Sd Alcohol 40
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Methylpropanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Alcohol Denat. Sd Alcohol 40, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Starch, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lauroyl Lysine, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Malic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc Gluconate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCetearyl 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 AlcoholCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateCoconut Alkanes is created from the fatty-acids of coconut oil. It is volatile, meaning it evaporates from the skin.
This ingredient is an emollient and solvent. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft and hydrated. Solvents help distribute and mix other ingredients. This ensures a more even consistency.
Coconut Alkanes may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Coconut AlkanesGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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
