What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientQuaternium-91
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Methosulfate
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
Polyquaternium-73
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPolyquaternium-7
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Behentrimonium Chloride, Diheptyl Succinate, Quaternium-91, Persea Gratissima Oil, Squalane, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglutamic Acid, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-37, Polyquaternium-73, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyquaternium-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingChlorophyllin-Copper Complex
AntioxidantTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientSalvia Hispanica Seed Oil
EmollientBrassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate
Emulsion StabilisingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion StabilisingBrassica Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningSpirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate, Biotin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Brassica Alcohol, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
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 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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsopropyl Palmitate is a texture enhancer and emollient. It is an ester of isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
Palmitates are emollients. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier that traps moisture in.
When added to cosmetics, Isopropyl Palmitate creates a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Isopropyl Palmitate may not be fungal acne safe. It can worsen acne prone skin.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitateParfum 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 ParfumThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPotassium 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 BenzoateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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