What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Urea
Buffering
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Lecithin
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Urea, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Propanediol, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Magnesium PCA, Collagen Amino Acids, Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl Glucoside
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Triethyl Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Reviews
Alternatives
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 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 AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
