What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Plant Ash Extract
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Coco-Caprylate, Urea, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Plant Ash Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningLanolin
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Honey
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitol
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Lanolin, Squalane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Myristate, Honey, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid
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 AlcoholGlyceryl 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 StearateIsopropyl Myristate is an emollient, thickening agent, and texture enhancer. It is created from isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid.
It is used to help other ingredients be better absorbed. It is also an emollient and may help soften and hydrate the skin.
The comedogenic rating of this ingredient depends on the concentration. Lower amounts results in a lower rating.
Isopropyl Myristate may not be fungal acne safe. It can potentially worsen acne prone skin.
Learn more about Isopropyl MyristateLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
