What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantApium Graveolens Seed Extract
AntioxidantCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrated Silica
AbrasivePropanediol
SolventSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrated Silica, Propanediol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientFructooligosaccharides
HumectantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingPotassium Lactate
BufferingIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Bis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Potassium Lactate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate
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 AlcoholWater. 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