What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
PEG-6
HumectantSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
C20-40 Pareth-40
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingParfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-6, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, C20-40 Pareth-40, Salicylic Acid, Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium PCA, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Ceteareth-20, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77007
Hordeum Vulgare Leaf Juice
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Propanediol
Solvent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder
Abrasive
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentArnica Montana Extract
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Medicago Sativa Extract
TonicSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hordeum Vulgare Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Extract, Borago Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Coco-Glucoside, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Kaolin, Sclerotium Gum, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Cetyl Palmitate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Sorbitan Palmitate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Water, Sodium Phytate, CI 77491, Alcohol, Limonene, Citral, Linalool
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholWater. 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
