What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bentonite
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Kaolin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Propylene Glycol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Bentonite, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycerin, CI 77891, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Algin
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMaris Aqua
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrapeptide-21
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sodium Hydroxide, Maris Aqua, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Carbomer, Tetrapeptide-21, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 StearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
