What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPassiflora Edulis Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Gluconate, BHT, Citric Acid, Propyl Gallate, CI 19140, CI 15985, CI 16035, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel FormingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPolyacrylate-13
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSafflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
O-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantBehenic Acid
CleansingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCholesterol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylate-13, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Tocopherol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactic Acid, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
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 AlcoholGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Cetearyl Sulfate is a type of sulfate.
Water. 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