What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sarcothalia Crispata
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Cyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Fruit
AstringentPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-73
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Isopropanolamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Parfum, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Sarcothalia Crispata, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Cyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cocamide Mipa, Polyquaternium-73, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Isopropanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-Octyldodecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-34
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicInositol
Humectant
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Olivate
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-Octyldodecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Caffeine, Mentha Piperita Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Copper Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-34, Biotin, Inositol, Phytosterols, Menthol, Melatonin, Lactic Acid, Sarcosine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Potassium Olivate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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 AlcoholSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
