What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin Conditioning7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Allantoin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Madecassoside, Ectoin, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Beta-Glucan, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Extract
AntimicrobialMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Yucca Filamentosa Root Extract
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Angelica Archangelica Root Extract
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Yucca Filamentosa Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Limonene, Linalool
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.
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 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 PanthenolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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
