What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Bentonite
Absorbent
Betaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Amara Peel Powder
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLecithin
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Aronia Arbutifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Sativum Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPetroselinum Crispum Leaf Extract
Perfuming
CI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Glycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Powder, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Aronia Arbutifolia Fruit Extract, Aristotelia Chilensis Fruit Extract, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Propanediol, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Petroselinum Crispum Leaf Extract, CI 75810
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.
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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinMagnesium Aluminum Silicate is a type of silica. It comes from naturally occuring minerals such as silicate ores and clay.
Magnesium aluminum silicate is used for enhancing texture and as an absorbent. Due to its large molecular size, it is unable to be absorbed into the skin.
Like other types of silica, this ingredient can be used to thicken a product. As an absorbent, it may be used to absorb extra water or help prevent clumping.
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Magnesium Aluminum SilicatePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
