What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentLactic Acid
Buffering
Piroctone Olamine
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dextran
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Lactic Acid, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium PCA, Citric Acid, Dextran, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Lauryl Pyrrolidone
CleansingAmodimethicone
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Dimethicone, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Lauryl Pyrrolidone, Amodimethicone, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sorbic Acid, Trideceth-12
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
