What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Colloidal Oatmeal 1%
Absorbent
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Betaine
Humectant
Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Lauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Myristate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHectorite
AbsorbentCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Colloidal Oatmeal 1%, Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Betaine, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lauryl Laurate, Cetyl Myristate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Carbomer, Hectorite, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Homosalate 2%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3 4%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientLauryl Lactate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCitrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogen Peroxide
AntimicrobialDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Soy Flour
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Protein
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Linalool
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate 2%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Benzophenone-3 4%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Lauryl Lactate, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Stearate, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Phospholipids, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glycolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Punica Granatum Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Soy Flour, Avena Sativa Kernel Protein, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Sclerotium Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlyceryl 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 StearateWater. 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
