What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Sorbitan Palmate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Palmitate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Maltodextrin, Sorbitan Palmate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, PEG-8, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPropanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate
EmollientEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Glycerin
Humectant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentBetaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Betaine, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Caprylyl Methicone, Cellulose Gum, Sorbitol, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Polyglycerin-3, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol
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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
