What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTriolein
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Sclerotium Gum, Triolein, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Behenyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Glyceryl Dioleate, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSqualane
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPolyurethane-10
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Polyisobutene
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantWine Extract
Antioxidant
Akebia Quinata Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sebacic Acid
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Myristic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Saccharomyces Ferment, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Squalane, Triheptanoin, Tromethamine, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, C9-12 Alkane, Polyurethane-10, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Polyacrylate-13, Lauroyl Lysine, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Azelaic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Polyisobutene, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Undecylenate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Acer Saccharum Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Wine Extract, Akebia Quinata Stem Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Lysate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sebacic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
