What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Diglycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingArtemisia Annua Extract
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tetraacetylphytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEctoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Artemisia Annua Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Disodium EDTA, Cellulose Gum, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Tocopherol, Ceramide AP, Glycosphingolipids, Xanthan Gum, Ectoin, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glycosphingolipids
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Maltodextrin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycosphingolipids, Citric Acid, Glycolipids
Alternatives
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 AlcoholGlycosphingolipids are naturally found in the cell membranes of organisms. In animals, they are the major glycolipids found.
Glyolipids help ensure the stability of cell membranes. They also help with cellular recognition, such as allowing cells to form tissues in skin.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
As an emulsifier, it works mainly as an oil-in-water one and helps keep the oil and water in your formulas blended. It also contributes to a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
This ingredient is biodegradable and commonly available in natural/COSMOS-certified grades.
Learn more about Sodium Stearoyl GlutamateWater. 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
