What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Amelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-25
CleansingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ferric Hexapeptide-35
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Phytosterols, Propylene Glycol, C12-16 Alcohols, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Olivate, Linoleic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Amelanchier Alnifolia Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Citric Acid, Sorbitol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide AP, Ceteareth-25, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ferric Hexapeptide-35, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Methylheptyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetyl Caprylate
EmollientRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningStrelitzia Nicolai Seed Aril Extract
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-34
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Zinc Glycinate
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polysilicone-11
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Caprylate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Strelitzia Nicolai Seed Aril Extract, Oligopeptide-34, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Zinc Glycinate, Decyl Glucoside, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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 AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
