What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPumice
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Vaccinium Corymbosum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Pumice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sclerotium Gum, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Citric Acid, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Raspberry Ketone, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Vaccinium Corymbosum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Persica Seed Powder
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingGlucose
Humectant
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrastis Canadensis Extract
MaskingHedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingLactoperoxidase
StabilisingPotassium Iodide
AntimicrobialPotassium Thiocyanate
StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Glycerin, Prunus Persica Seed Powder, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Glucose, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Potassium Iodide, Potassium Thiocyanate, Limonene
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 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 GlycerinChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
