What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Tetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Tapioca Starch
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyvinyl Alcohol
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Tetrapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Tapioca Starch, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOleyl Erucate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSqualane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Mango Butter Dimer Dilinoleyl Esters/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingS-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Decapeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-78
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPolyurethane-10
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
MoisturisingCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Oleyl Erucate, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Mango Butter Dimer Dilinoleyl Esters/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Triheptanoin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic Acetate, Oligopeptide-1, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Decapeptide-22, Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14, Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, C9-12 Alkane, Polyurethane-10, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten, Cyanocobalamin, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Tin Oxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
