What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Amodimethicone
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acetylated Lanolin
Emollient
Cetyl Acetate
Emollient
Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate
Glycerin
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-75
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-12, Isohexadecane, Isododecane, C13-15 Alkane, Polysorbate 80, Acetylated Lanolin, Cetyl Acetate, Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, PEG-75, Ceteareth-20, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Parfum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Ceteareth-20
CleansingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Myroxylon Pereirae Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Cinnamate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Menthyl Lactate, Ceteareth-20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Cetearyl 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
