What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantJojoba Esters
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingRetinol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantGellan Gum
Hydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Dioleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Isopentyldiol, Jojoba Esters, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Retinol, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Ergothioneine, Gellan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Cetearyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientSelaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDistearyldimonium Chloride
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
MaskingSqualene
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantStearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantLens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Jojoba Esters, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-21, Cetyl Alcohol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Squalene, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Butylene Glycol, Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylparaben, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, EDTA, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Whey Protein, Ubiquinone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosterols, Citric Acid
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 mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidJojoba Esters is a wax created from Jojoba oil. It is an emollient and film-forming ingredient. In bead form, it is an exfoliator.
This ingredient has high oxidative stability, meaning it doesn't break down when exposed to oxygen.
Its similarity to our skin's natural oils makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe our skin by creating a barrier on top. This barrier helps trap moisture in, keeping skin hydrated.
It is created using either the hydrogenation or transesterification processes on jojoba oil.
Learn more about Jojoba EstersStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.
Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water