What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Vinyldimethicone
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Linolenate
Emollient
Glyceryl Linoleate
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAgar
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Myristate
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSea Salt
Abrasive
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
Buffering
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingRutin
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Asparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Taurine
BufferingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Repagermanium
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Riboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Menadione
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningHesperidin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Vinyldimethicone, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Trimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Lunatus Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glyceryl Linolenate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate, Bisabolol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cholesterol, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Agar, Dextrin, Ceramide NP, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Magnesium Myristate, Magnesium Stearate, Sea Salt, Acetyl Glucosamine, Zinc Gluconate, Calcium Stearate, Lactic Acid, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Rutin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Zinc PCA, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Dipotassium Phosphate, Lysine, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Cysteine, Citrulline, Ascorbic Acid, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Ornithine, Copper Tripeptide-1, Taurine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Pantothenic Acid, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Retinyl Palmitate, Repagermanium, Linolenic Acid, Riboflavin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Menadione, Biotin, Bioflavonoids, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Thiamine Hcl, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Hesperidin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Heptyl Undecylenate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearic Acid, Gluconolactone, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 StearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
