What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides
Emollient
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Lactate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingPantolactone
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Anise Alcohol
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Betaine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Cellulose, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Potassium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Pantolactone, Citric Acid, Anise Alcohol, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hypericum Perforatum Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Seyal Gum Extract
HumectantCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Ceteareth-20
CleansingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Panthenol, Phragmites Karka Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Hypericum Perforatum Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Poria Cocos Extract, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ceteareth-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ceteareth-20, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol 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
