What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Morus Nigra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Dna
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Homosalate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Benzophenone-3, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Dna, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Ceteareth-6 Olivate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingJuniperus Virginiana Wood Oil
Perfuming
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Coco-Glucoside, Carnosine, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Phosphate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Expressed, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Ectoin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Benzoic Acid, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Disodium EDTA, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Superoxide Dismutase, Tromethamine, Juniperus Virginiana Wood Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral
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.
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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
