What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Adipate
EmollientBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycol Palmitate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Triacontanyl Pvp
HumectantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dibutyl Adipate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycol Palmitate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Triacontanyl Pvp, Lactobacillus, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate
UV Absorber
Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Helianthus Annuus Seed
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Oryza Sativa Starch, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate, Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Phytic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, CI 75120, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
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.
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 AcidDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate (DHHB) is a chemical UV-A absorber. It is formulated for high UVA protection (320-400 nm).
DHHB is well-liked for:
DHHB has been approved by the EU, Japan, Taiwan, and South America for use up to 10%. Unfortunately, it has not been approved for use in the US or Canada due to slow regulatory processes.
This ingredient is soluble in oils, fats, and lipids.
Learn more about Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl BenzoateEthylhexyl Triazone is a modern chemical sunscreen that protects from UV-B radiation.
It is the most effective of existing UV-B filters, as it provides the highest level of photo-stable absorption. It protects from the entire UV-B range (280 to 320nm), with it's highest level of protection at 314nm.
Ethylhexyl Triazone is oil soluble, oderless and colorless, which mean it is able to be incorporated into a variety of different formulations.
It is not currently available within the United States due to slow changing FDA regulations. Outside of the US, it is used in formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl TriazoneSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
