What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentBenzyl Glycol
SolventLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Limonia Acidissima Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOldenlandia Diffusa Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Extract
AstringentSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Coumarin
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Benzyl Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Limonia Acidissima Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Oldenlandia Diffusa Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Benzoate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caramel, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Raspberry Ketone, Coumarin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingStearoxytrimethylsilane
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceteareth-20, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Farnesol, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Dimethiconol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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 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 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 PanthenolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
