What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Stearic Acid, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Myristate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Triethanolamine, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Methylparaben, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, Propylparaben, Hydroxystearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hcl, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isododecane
EmollientMyristyl Lactate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3
Skin Conditioning
Propylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Squalane, Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Isododecane, Myristyl Lactate, Triethanolamine, Myristyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateIsopropyl Myristate is an emollient, thickening agent, and texture enhancer. It is created from isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid.
It is used to help other ingredients be better absorbed. It is also an emollient and may help soften and hydrate the skin.
The comedogenic rating of this ingredient depends on the concentration. Lower amounts results in a lower rating.
Isopropyl Myristate may not be fungal acne safe. It can potentially worsen acne prone skin.
Learn more about Isopropyl MyristateMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenParaffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben with antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
This ingredient can be naturally found in plants and insects, but most of it is synthetically manufactured for human use. In cosmetics, it is usually created by reacting para-aminobenzoic acid and propanol (an alcohol).
You can usually find this ingredient in water-based products.
Parabens have come under controversy due to the claim they are hormone disruptors. Studies show conflicting results. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Propylparaben is commonly found in food, medicine, and cosmetics.
Learn more about PropylparabenStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTriethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
