What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPhytantriol
HumectantMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentLawsonia Inermis Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingSymphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentHoney
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
EmulsifyingWater, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Polysorbate 20, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Panthenol, Phytantriol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Lawsonia Inermis Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Honey, Biotin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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