What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Vitis Vinifera
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningTilia Cordata Extract
RefreshingCoenochloris Signiensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Leaf Oil
MaskingOlibanum
MaskingCommiphora Myrrha Oil
MaskingVitis Vinifera, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbitan Stearate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Tilia Cordata Extract, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Cananga Odorata Leaf Oil, Olibanum, Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantC15-19 Alkane
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningColloidal Gold
AntimicrobialRhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentPhalaenopsis Amabilis Extract
HumectantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIsomalt
HumectantLecithin
EmollientSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzoic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, C15-19 Alkane, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Colloidal Gold, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phalaenopsis Amabilis Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk, Lactic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isomalt, Lecithin, Saccharide Isomerate, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate/Succinate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Geraniol
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 AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium 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 SorbateJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilSodium 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 BenzoateSorbitan Stearate comes from sorbitol and stearic acid. Sorbitol is a type of sugar and stearic acid is a fatty acid.
It is used as an emulsifier and helps ingredients stay together by creating water-in-oil emulsions.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Tocopherol 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 Tocopherol