What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Nylon-12
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingIsopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Disodium EDTA
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingPolyethylene
Abrasive
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Silica
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Octocrylene, Nylon-12, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octyldodecanol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Isopropyl Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Yeast Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Retinyl Palmitate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyethylene, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 15510, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingSqualane
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Triacetin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingFarnesol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Squalane, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Urea, Trehalose, Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose Gum, Algin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Methylpropanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Farnesol
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
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 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
