What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Caprate
EmollientAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Caprate
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingUrea
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingHeptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polysilicone-15, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Silica, Niacinamide, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Urea, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Heptasodium Hexacarboxymethyl Dipeptide-12, Glutathione, Geraniol, Linalool, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl 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 Stearate
