What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCeteth-20
CleansingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialGlycolic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialAlcohol
AntimicrobialPolysilicone-11
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingWater, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Ceteth-20, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Mandelic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Polysorbate 20, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Limonene, Isoeugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlucosamine
Silver
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
BufferingPEG-100 Stearate
Triethanolamine 1%
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChitosan
Limonene
PerfumingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Tangerina Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingCitral
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSilver Chloride
PreservativeCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glucosamine, Silver, Lactic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Triethanolamine 1%, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chitosan, Limonene, Allantoin, Citrus Tangerina Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citral, Linalool, Silver Chloride, Citronellol, Geraniol
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 AlcoholCitral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
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 CitralCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLimonene 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 LimonenePhenoxyethanol 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.
Triethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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