What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
PEG-100 Stearate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSulfur, Water, Niacinamide, Zea Mays Starch, Glycolic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-100 Stearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Allantoin, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyacrylamide, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Squalane
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingUrea
Buffering
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Agar
MaskingPectin
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Zinc Oxide, Sulfur, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tranexamic Acid, Squalane, Alpha-Arbutin, Salicylic Acid, Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate, Urea, Acacia Senegal Gum, Silica, Beta-Glucan, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Lactate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Agar, Pectin
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 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 GlycerinSulfur is a commonly occurring element on Earth (and our universe!). In cosmetics, it helps kill bacteria, reduces sebum, and provides exfoliation. This makes it an effective ingredient to reduce breakouts and fight acne.
As a ketayolytic agent, it breaks down the top layer of skin. This is a form of exfoliation and may help decrease acne and hyperpigmentation.
Studies show sulfur has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Sulfur can be drying if used excessively or at higher concentrations. We recommend speaking with a medical professional if you have any concerns.
Ancient Greece, India, China, and Egypt have used sulfur in both traditional medicines and for household use.
Learn more about SulfurWater. 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
