What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientOrbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientPseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Officinalis Flower Extract
UV FilterLithothamnion Calcareum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Amylopectin
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Amylopectin, Potassium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientRhus Verniciflua Peel Wax
Sucrose Polystearate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSesamum Indicum Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientShorea Robusta Seed Butter
EmollientSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Hull Powder
AbrasiveHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientDextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingScrophularia Nodosa Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Datem
EmollientSunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAlcohol
AntimicrobialWater, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Sucrose Polystearate, Dipropylene Glycol, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cera Alba, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sesamum Indicum Oil Unsaponifiables, Shorea Robusta Seed Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Dextrin, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Parfum, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Scrophularia Nodosa Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Asiatic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Datem, Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, 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.
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 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 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 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