What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Tapioca Starch
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Tapioca Starch, Dicaprylyl Ether, C15-19 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Polyglycerin-6, Sorbitan Oleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantolactone, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientEthyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Hull Powder
Abrasive
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Protease
Exfoliating
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Subtilisin
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Poria Cocos Extract
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Codium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract
Masking
Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract
Perfuming
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Hull Powder, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Parfum, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Protease, Papain, Hexyl Cinnamal, Subtilisin, Galactoarabinan, Poria Cocos Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Tocopherol, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Malic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Dipteryx Odorata Bean Extract, Ribes Nigrum Bud Extract, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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 GlycerinStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
