What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Monococcum Stem Water
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Triticum Monococcum Stem Water, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Mel
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGeraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycine Soja Oil, Mel, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Leaf/Twig Oil, Linalool, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Geraniol, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCetearyl 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 AlcoholGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitrateLimonene 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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolTocopheryl 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
