What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMethylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV FilterCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingPassiflora Incarnata Seed Oil
Skin ProtectingPrunus Persica Flower Extract
MoisturisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentPropanediol
SolventGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCalcium Gluconate
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingRaspberry Ketone
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Glycol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Zea Mays Starch, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calcium Gluconate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Raspberry Ketone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMethicone
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLauryl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPearl Powder
Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlucose
HumectantMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingGlutathione
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCeteth-5
EmulsifyingCeteth-3
EmulsifyingSolanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Paradisi Seed Oil
PerfumingCetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingCoumarin
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Niacinamide, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, PEG-100 Stearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Methicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Myristyl Alcohol, Adenosine, Lauryl Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pearl Powder, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Propylene Glycol, PEG-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Cholesterol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glutathione, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Seed Oil, Cetyl Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal
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.
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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopherol 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 TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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