What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Mel
EmollientCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBHT
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Mel, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, BHT, Carbomer, Parfum, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 15985, CI 61570
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Selenium Sulfide
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrophilic Polyether Polyurethane
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Distichon Extract
Skin ProtectingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Taraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentTriticum Aestivum Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningBrain Extract
Skin ProtectingLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Starch, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Selenium Sulfide, Papain, Squalane, Thioctic Acid, Hydrophilic Polyether Polyurethane, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Triticum Aestivum Leaf Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Brain Extract, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, CI 77288
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Cetearyl 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 EthylhexylglycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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
