What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Arachidyl Propionate
EmollientVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingBHT
Antioxidant
Sorbitol
Humectant
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Petrolatum, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Arachidyl Propionate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, BHT, Sorbitol, CI 14700, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Harungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingUlex Europaeus Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Bark Extract
MaskingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Mica, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, CI 77891, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Anhydroxylitol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethiconol, Xylitol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Ulex Europaeus Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Punica Granatum Bark Extract, CI 14700, CI 17200, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Maris Sal, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl 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 AlcoholCi 14700, also known as Red No. 4, is a synthetic red dye derived from petroleum. It is water soluble.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Tocopheryl 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
