What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Glucose
Humectant
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningBehenic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Tuberosus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Ether, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glycolipids, Ectoin, Bisabolol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Panthenol, Methionine, Cysteine, Allantoin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Ubiquinone, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Morus Alba Root Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glucose, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Levulinate, Behenic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Helianthus Tuberosus Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bentonite
Absorbent
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Latifolia Peel Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Saccharide Isomerate, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Myristyl Myristate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Tocopherol, Citrus Latifolia Peel Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Parfum
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 AlcoholCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SeTocopherol 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
