What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Urea, Dimethicone, Glycol Distearate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Diheptyl Succinate, Triethanolamine, Polysorbate 80, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dihydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Bran
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Stearamide Amp
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Carbon
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingTapioca Starch
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Dihydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Avena Sativa Bran, Parfum, Glycol Stearate, Stearamide Amp, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Carbon, Potassium Hydroxide, Tapioca Starch, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeIsopropyl Myristate is an ester made by combining isopropyl alcohol with myristic acid.
It is primarily an emollient and penetration enhancer that gives products a lightweight, silky feel without the heaviness of oils.
This ingredient is generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, and has low absorption potential.
You might have heard that this ingredient clogs pores. This reputation comes from the older rabbit ear studies which are more sensitive than human skin to clogging.
Dermatologist Dr. Zoe Draelos has also confirmed in a peer-reviewed paper that products containing comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic themselves.
A small subset of people (~2%) may experience contact sensitivity so patch testing is a reasonable idea if you have reactive skin.
Since this ingredient is an ester of myristic acid (a C14 fatty acid), it falls within the carbon chain range that is known to feed Malassezia. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl MyristatePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
