What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
C9-12 Alkane
SolventOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract
Antimicrobial
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Lavandula Oil/Extract
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Piper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingTetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Arginine, Chlorphenesin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lecithin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Citric Acid, Menthoxypropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lavandula Oil/Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycosphingolipids
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Stearate
Emollient
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-5 Ethylhexanoate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Isostearyl Isostearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Steareth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingCeteth-20
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Decyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Stearate, Charcoal Powder, Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, PEG-5 Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Steareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Trideceth-9, Ceteth-20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene
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 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 StearatePropanediol 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 PropanediolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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
