What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
AbrasiveEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentSilica
AbrasiveCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCapsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientBHT
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Parfum
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77400
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45370
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantTrimethylsiloxysilicate, Isohexadecane, Methyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Silica, Cera Microcristallina, Cetearyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diisostearyl Malate, BHT, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 80, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Parfum, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 15850, CI 42090, CI 15985, CI 19140, CI 45410, CI 45380, CI 77400, CI 73360, CI 45370, CI 77163, CI 77742, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Glycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIsohexadecane
EmollientIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Polyacrylamide
PEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeIron Oxides
Water, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Isostearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Laureth-7, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, PEG-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Iron Oxides
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 AlcoholIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about Isohexadecane