What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-8 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sambucus Nigra Oil
Masking
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Rosa Multiflora Flower Wax
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Cleansing
Limonene
Perfuming
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Menthol
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-8 Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Sambucus Nigra Oil, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Silica, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax, Glycerin, Lecithin, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Linalool, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Geraniol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Rosa Multiflora Flower Wax, Tocopherol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Limonene, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Menthol, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Citral, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
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 Alcohol
