What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Pollen Extract
EmollientOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Bee Venom
Astringent
Lecithin
Emollient
Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Obovata Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Glyceryl Caprylate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Beeswax, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Isohexadecane, Triethanolamine, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Salicylic Acid, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Pollen Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol, Bee Venom, Lecithin, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Sappan Bark Extract, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingTrehalose
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Saussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantGeraniol
Perfuming
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Triethylhexanoin, Trehalose, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Parfum, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Benzyl Salicylate, BHT, Propylene Glycol, Sucrose Cocoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Geraniol, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Ethyl Hexanediol, CI 15985, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 GlycolThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlyceryl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Sorbitan Stearate is an emulsifier made by reacting sorbitol with stearic acid.
It's mostly used to keep oil and water mixed so your formulas stay smooth and stable.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has found 4% of this ingredient in repeat-insult patch tests on humans to be non-sensitizing. There is a caveat that some reactions have shown up in patients with damaged or diseased skin.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it falls into the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize. This means this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan StearateStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
