What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Sulfite
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningWater, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Polysorbate 60, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Sulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientUlmus Fulva Bark Extract
MoisturisingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDiethyl Phthalate
MaskingWater, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Ulmus Fulva Bark Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cera Alba, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Diethyl Phthalate
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 AlcoholPhenoxyethanol 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.
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil comes from the sweet almond, a tree native to Iran. This oil has no fragrance and is non-volatile.
Almonds contain healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is a rich source of Vitamin E, a great antioxidant and skin conditioning ingredient. Sweet almond oil contains fatty acids such as linolenic acid and triglycerides.
The content of sweet almond oil makes it a great emollient; it can help soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a barrier over your skin to trap moisture in. Sweet almond oil has antioxidant properties.
Those with an almond allergy should be careful of this ingredient and speak with a professional about using it in your skincare.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilWater. 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