What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tridecyl Stearate
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingHexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientDisodium Cocoamphodipropionate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientOleth-10 Phosphate
SurfactantParfum
MaskingCarbomer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantTridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Whey Protein, Algae Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitol, Artemia Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Bisabolol, Caffeine, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearyl Alcohol, Oleth-10 Phosphate, Parfum, Carbomer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isoceteth-20, Triethanolamine, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Glycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIsohexadecane
EmollientIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantInositol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
PEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Polyacrylate Starch
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Isostearate, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Copper Gluconate, BHT, Inositol, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Caramel
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl Alcohol