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 ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPolyurethane-10
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
MoisturisingDecapeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-78
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Mannitol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Triheptanoin, Dicaprylyl Ether, C9-12 Alkane, Polyurethane-10, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sucrose Polystearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Phosphatidylcholine, Alpha-Arbutin, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Isodonis Japonicus Leaf/Stalk Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten, Decapeptide-22, Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Zinc Palmitoyl Nonapeptide-14, Parfum, Mannitol, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Eugenol, Linalool, Limonene
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.
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 AcidDicaprylyl Ether is created from caprylic acid. It is a texture-enhancer and emollient.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Ether is non-comedogenic. It helps soften and smooth the skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, helping to hydrate the skin.
Dicaprylyl Ether gives a non-greasy feel and better spreadability to products.
Learn more about Dicaprylyl EtherGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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
