What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingC15-19 Alkane
SolventSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningLanolin
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyglycerin-6
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantSorbic Acid
PreservativeHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDipotassium EDTA
Citral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isoamyl Laurate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol, C15-19 Alkane, Sorbitan Stearate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Lanolin, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol, Polyglycerin-6, Sorbitan Oleate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sorbic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Dipotassium EDTA, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
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 AlcoholSorbic Acid is a preservative. It is the most commonly used food preservative in the world.
Sorbic Acid is a natural antibiotic and highly effective at preventing the growth of fungus. It is less effective against bacteria.
Potassium Sorbate, another commonly-used preservative, is the potassium salt of Sorbic Acid.
Sorbic Acid may worsen eczema. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
Learn more about Sorbic AcidWater. 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