What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientPassiflora Incarnata Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hexyldecyl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Lecithin
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Maris Aqua
HumectantMenthyl Lactate
Masking
Olus Oil
Emollient
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Pullulan
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingSodium Gluceptate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Yogurt
Skin ProtectingYogurt Powder
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, C13-15 Alkane, Distarch Phosphate, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Propanediol, Squalane, Ethyl Linoleate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Algin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Maris Aqua, Menthyl Lactate, Olus Oil, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Potassium Phosphate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Pullulan, Saccharide Isomerate, Serine, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Sodium Gluceptate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Urea, Yogurt, Yogurt Powder, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates
CleansingCeteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Isopropyl Myristate, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Sodium PCA, Propylparaben, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
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 PanthenolWater. 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
