Garnier Express Aclara Versus Avène Cold Cream
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
PEG-100 Stearate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Triethanolamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Silica, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, CI 77891, Potassium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Linalool, Geraniol, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Talc, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Myristic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Laureth-7, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 ParfumTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
