What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sorbic Acid, C10-18 Triglycerides, Xanthan Gum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Resveratrol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ubiquinone, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Fruticosus Juice
AstringentRubus Idaeus Juice
AstringentCrataegus Monogyna Fruit
Skin ConditioningHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Virgatum Fruit Juice
HumectantMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tilia Platyphyllos Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Capsicum Annuum Extract
MaskingBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Cera Alba
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Daucus Carota Sativa Extract
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Citrus Limon Peel
MaskingMalpighia Glabra Fruit
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Oil
Emollient
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Tapioca Starch
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Rubus Fruticosus Juice, Rubus Idaeus Juice, Crataegus Monogyna Fruit, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice, Vaccinium Virgatum Fruit Juice, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Maltodextrin, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tilia Platyphyllos Flower Extract, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Capsicum Annuum Extract, Bioflavonoids, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Cera Alba, Salicylic Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel, Malpighia Glabra Fruit, Emblica Officinalis Fruit, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone
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 AlcoholThis extract comes from the Cabbage Palm, AKA the Açaà berry! It has skin soothing and antioxidant properties.
Acai berries are rich in antioxidants, including ferulic acid (The famous vitamin C stabilizer). Antioxidants protect your skin against damaging free-radical molecules.
You can also find carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals, vitamin A, and Vitamin C in these berries.
Learn more about Euterpe Oleracea Fruit ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePotassium 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 SorbateUbiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) is a molecule already found in our bodies. It is a potent antioxidant and skin-soothing ingredient.
Aging and environmental exposure diminishes our skin's natural ubiquinone levels. This is much like our natural collagen and elastin.
The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:
Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.
When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.
Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.
Learn more about UbiquinoneXanthan 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
