What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate
EmollientQuaternium-91
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientCetyl Esters
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone PEG-7 Isostearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
PEG-7 Amodimethicone
Humectant
PEG-45m
HumectantAmodimethicone
Disodium EDTA
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
C12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingVitis Vinifera
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Acetic Acid
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingTocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate
Antioxidant
Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
Humectant
Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberPropanediol
Solvent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCitral
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
PEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4
HumectantEtidronic Acid
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate, Quaternium-91, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetyl Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Dimethicone PEG-7 Isostearate, Glycine Soja Oil, PEG-7 Amodimethicone, PEG-45m, Amodimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Polysilicone-15, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, C11-15 Pareth-7, Sodium Polyacrylate, C12-13 Pareth-3, C12-13 Pareth-23, Vitis Vinifera, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Laureth-9, Trideceth-12, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Acetic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Quaternium-95, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, PEG-8, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Punica Granatum Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate, BHT, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Biotin, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4, Etidronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPEG-4 Diheptanoate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Propylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, PEG-4 Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Caffeine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Squalane, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Laurate, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Citral, Tin Oxide, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, CI 75470, CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491
Reviews
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 GlycolCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about CitralGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract is also known as yaeyama aoki, noni, or the great morinda. This fruit is packed with bioactive compounds that give it skin conditioning and antioxidant properties.
Research on this ingredient has shown some interesting results: a clinical trial on 49 women (ages 38-55) found the daily use of noni-based skincare improved skin firmness and elasticity by up to ~42.4% over six weeks.
Lab studies have also demonstrated that some of the compounds can inhibit tyrosinase ans elastase, enzymes involved in pigmentation and the breaking down of skin's elastic fibers.
Fun fact: This ingredient has been used in Polynesian folk medicine for over 2,000 years.
Learn more about Morinda Citrifolia Fruit ExtractPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateWater. 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
