What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
PEG-75 Stearate
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Ceteth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steareth-20
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aminoethanesulfinic Acid
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
Preservative
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Octyldodecanol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-75 Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ceteth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, Cyclopentasiloxane, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Propolis Extract, Aminoethanesulfinic Acid, Silica, Carnosine, Methylparaben, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Propylparaben, Laminaria Digitata Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Myreth-3 Myristate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Myreth-3 Myristate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Wax, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Stearyl Alcohol, Silica, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, CI 77891, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sorbitol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Potassium Sorbate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Biotin
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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
