What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetearyl Olivate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Tomato Skin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Chloride
MaskingOenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sodium Phytate
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isoamyl Laurate, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Tomato Skin, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceteareth-20, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sodium Phytate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Phenylpropanol, Citric Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Cyclohexasiloxane, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Cetearyl 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidWater. 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
