What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycogen
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sucrose
Humectant
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Arginine, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycogen, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum, Sucrose, Plankton Extract, Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citral, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG-75
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingRosa Damascena Extract
MaskingRibes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract
MaskingBenzaldehyde
Masking
Hexenyl Acetate
Masking
Gamma-Decalactone
Perfuming
Ionone
Astringent
Ethyl Acetate
Perfuming
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Pantethine
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Punica Granatum Sterols
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-75, Dimethicone, Persea Gratissima Oil, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract, Benzaldehyde, Hexenyl Acetate, Gamma-Decalactone, Ionone, Ethyl Acetate, Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Isopropyl Isostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Sucrose, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Triticum Vulgare Bran Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Oryza Sativa Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pantethine, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Punica Granatum Sterols, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Trehalose, Bisabolol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Aquilaria Agallocha Wood Oil
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 AlcoholCetyl 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 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSucrose is a natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It is the main constituent of white sugar.
In skincare, sucrose is a humectant and can be a mild exfoliant.
Sucrose is hydrophilic, meaning it attracts water. This makes it an effective humectant and helps hydrate the skin.
Studies show sugars may worsen acne-prone skin due to it disrupting the skin's natural biome. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
In some products such as body scrubs, sucrose is used as an gentle exfoliant.
The term 'sucrose' comes from the french word for sugar, 'sucre'.
Learn more about SucroseWater. 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
