What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Yucca Glauca Root Extract
Skin ProtectingRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Polyphenols
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Sucrose Laurate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Yucca Glauca Root Extract, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Leontopodium Alpinum Callus Culture Extract, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Squalane, Caffeine, Resveratrol, Camellia Sinensis Polyphenols, Bisabolol, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sucrose Laurate, PEG-100 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid 8%
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Emulsifying Wax Nf
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Antioxidant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Cotyledon Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Arginine
Masking
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycolic Acid 8%, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salicylic Acid 2%, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Stearic Acid, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower/Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Cotyledon Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arginine, Glutamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 AlcoholPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
