What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyester-5
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPolyether-1
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXyloglucan
HumectantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, CI 77891, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Niacinamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Alcohol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Isododecane, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Polyester-5, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Stearoxy Ether, CI 77288, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyether-1, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xyloglucan, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Tocopherol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Methyl Dihydroabietate
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phytic Acid
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Ethyl Ester
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningSyringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 12%, Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Coco-Glucoside, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Propanediol, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Pongamia Pinnata Seed Extract, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lauroyl Lysine, Sclerotium Gum, Diheptyl Succinate, Octyldodecanol, Isostearic Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Citric Acid, Phytic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Trihydroxystearin, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Silybum Marianum Ethyl Ester, Maltodextrin, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
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 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 GlycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
