What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Sorbitol
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-73
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingVinegar
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Didecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventPolyquaternium-80
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Acetate
BufferingCellulose
Absorbent
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Gluconolactone, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Sorbitol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-73, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Vinegar, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Methylpropanediol, Polyquaternium-80, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Acetate, Cellulose, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Volcanic Sand
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingEmulsifying Wax Nf
Kaolin
Abrasive
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlutathione
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Cotyledon Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
Antioxidant
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Alumina, Cetearyl Alcohol, Volcanic Sand, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Kaolin, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glutathione, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale Callus Culture Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Cotyledon Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Arbutin, Sea Salt, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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
