What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-37
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
PEG-20 Stearate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-37, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, PEG-20 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetyl 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 AlcoholWater. 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
