What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingAmmonium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycolic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Ammonium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol
Salicylic Acid 1.5%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Fucus Spiralis Extract
EmollientTetraselmis Chui Extract
EmollientRhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantTasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningVitex Agnus Castus Extract
AstringentHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid 1.5%, Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Lactobacillus Ferment, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Tranexamic Acid, Hexyl Laurate, Glycine Soja Oil, C15-19 Alkane, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Bakuchiol, Fucus Spiralis Extract, Tetraselmis Chui Extract, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Sulfate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Anisate
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 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 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 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
