What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientStearalkonium Chloride
PreservativeBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeParfum
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPisum Sativum Peptide
Skin ConditioningAcetum
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventSodium PCA
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCitral
PerfumingCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Linalool
PerfumingGlyceryl Undecylenate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingGeraniol
PerfumingHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningVanillin
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasivePyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPanicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingLauryl Alcohol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantAcetic Acid
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sorbitol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Acetum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Alcohol, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Citral, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Linalool, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Panthenol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Limonene, Polysorbate 80, Geraniol, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Vanillin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Myristyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Lauryl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Acetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeOrbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientCucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
AstringentPsidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hemp Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPolyquaternium-10
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Hydrolyzed Hemp Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterDicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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