What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningC13-16 Isoalkane
SolventC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientAnigozanthos Flavidus Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientCollagen
MoisturisingDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningBehenic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Citric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Persea Gratissima Oil, C13-16 Isoalkane, C10-18 Triglycerides, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Anigozanthos Flavidus Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Collagen, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Phytosphingosine, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Jojoba Esters, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Triethyl Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Levulinate, Parfum
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
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 AlcoholCetyl 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 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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumSodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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