What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyisoprene
Ceteareth-6 Olivate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Asparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyisoprene, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hexapeptide-47
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Algae Extract
EmollientAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hexapeptide-47, Sodium Polyacrylate, Algae Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract is from brown seaweed that grows in the northern Atlantic Ocean. It is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage our skin cells.
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract is also used to enhance the texture of products.
Asparagopsis Armata Extract is from seaweed. It is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules. These molecules damage our cells.
Asparagopsis Armata Extract may also be used to enhance the texture of products.
Ongoing research shows Asparagopsis Armata Extract may have antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Asparagopsis Armata ExtractCetearyl 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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about Sorbitol
