What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Vanillin
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Stearalkonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Vanillin, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Benzoate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Citric Acid, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Benzyl Alcohol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol Propionate
SolventChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol Propionate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Benzophenone-4, Caramel, Linalool, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
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 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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
