What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMyristyl Myristate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Lactose
HumectantJojoba Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Jojobate
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Diisopropyl Adipate, Stearic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Arachidyl Glucoside, CI 77891, Myristyl Myristate, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Polyacrylate, Lactose, Jojoba Alcohol, Potassium Jojobate, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Cellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Glucose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Silt
AbsorbentPropanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-30
CleansingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate
EmollientBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalene
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningPhoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract
EmollientMaris Aqua
HumectantWater, Kaolin, Silt, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cocamide Mea, Ceteareth-30, PEG-40 Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Tristearate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Oil, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides Citrate, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Maris Sal, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Phoenix Dactylifera Fruit Extract, Maris Aqua
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 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
