What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG-75
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingRibes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract
MaskingBenzaldehyde
Masking
Hexenyl Acetate
Masking
Gamma-Decalactone
Perfuming
Ionone
Astringent
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Pantethine
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-75, Dimethicone, Persea Gratissima Oil, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract, Benzaldehyde, Hexenyl Acetate, Gamma-Decalactone, Ionone, Ethyl Acetate, Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Isopropyl Isostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sucrose, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Oryza Sativa Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pantethine, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Punica Granatum Sterols, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Trehalose, Bisabolol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientBentonite
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Gellan Gum
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Propanediol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Bentonite, Phenoxyethanol, Gellan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf, CI 77492, Sodium Chloride, CI 77288, Magnesium Sulfate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, CI 77163, Mica, Caramel, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPeg-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.
This ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
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
