What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantEthyl Linoleate
EmollientEthyl Oleate
EmollientNymphaea Alba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCaprylic Acid
CleansingXylitol
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCocamide Mipa
EmulsifyingPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-91
Polyquaternium-37
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSodium Lignosulfonate
SurfactantCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Oleate, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic Acid, Xylitol, Sorbitol, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cocamide Mipa, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Quaternium-91, Polyquaternium-37, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Lignosulfonate, Ceresin, Maltodextrin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePanthenol
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingLitchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingAlgin
MaskingCarrageenan
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantChitosan
Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDihydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
HumectantSilicone Quaternium-3
PEG-14
HumectantPEG-33
HumectantPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
PEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Algin, Carrageenan, Coco-Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sorbitol, Chitosan, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Cetrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Dihydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Silicone Quaternium-3, PEG-14, PEG-33, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polyquaternium-37, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Trideceth-12, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Reviews
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%.
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 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.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidThis 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 ChlorideIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
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 Isopropyl AlcoholIsopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.
Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.
Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).
The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.
Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitatePanthenol 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 “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 ParfumWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-37 yet.
We don't have a description for PPG-1 Trideceth-6 yet.
This ingredient is an emollient designed to leave a non-greasy feel. It is also a skin conditioning agent and viscosity modifier.
Skin irritation studies for this ingredient (up to 80%) showed mimimal to no irritation.
One thing worth knowing: this ingredient may enhance the skin penetration of other ingredients.
Overall, this ingredient is a well-tolerated and lightweight emollient.
Learn more about Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/DicaprateSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolWater. 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