What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningVp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycine
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-37
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Etidronic Acid
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycine, Glycerin, Pouteria Sapota Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Polyquaternium-37, Polysorbate 20, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trideceth-6, Sodium Metabisulfite, Zinc Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Benzalkonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cystoseira Compressa Extract
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
Emollient
Trideceth-5
EmulsifyingQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberDimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
CI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Zea Mays Starch, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cystoseira Compressa Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phyllostachys Nigra Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dimethiconol, Trideceth-5, Quaternium-95, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Calcium Gluconate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Parfum, CI 47005, CI 61570
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 BenzoateWe don't have a description for Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine yet.
Water. 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
