What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tridecane
Perfuming
C9-12 Alkane
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Polysorbate 20, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Undecane, Triheptanoin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Maltodextrin, Tridecane, C9-12 Alkane, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearates
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingMannitol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearates, Cetearyl Alcohol, Retinal, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Tetrapeptide-1, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phosphatidylcholine, Mannitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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 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 GlycerinPotassium 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 SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTocopherol 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
