What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-55
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialBorago Officinalis Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientCoconut Alkanes
EmollientOlealkonium Chloride
Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Polyquaternium-11
Coceth-7
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer
Bis-PCA Dimethicone
Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate
CleansingIsohexadecane
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-55, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Galactoarabinan, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Coconut Alkanes, Olealkonium Chloride, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-11, Coceth-7, Butylene Glycol, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer, Bis-PCA Dimethicone, Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate, Isohexadecane, Aminomethyl Propanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Citronellol, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingPrunus Serotina Bark Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Distearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Behenamidopropyl Dimonium Chloride
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbic Acid
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyethylene
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Prunus Serotina Bark Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Myristyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-8 Distearate, Hydroxyethyl Behenamidopropyl Dimonium Chloride, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyacrylate-13, Polysorbate 20, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffin, Phenoxyethanol, Polyethylene, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Citronellol, Coumarin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolWe don't have a description for Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride yet.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolCoumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil comes from the seabuckthorn plant. It is rich in tocopherols, tocotrienols, and plant sterols.
This oil is rich in fatty acids, including: two types of linoleic acid (~30-34%), oleic acid (17%), and palmiteic acid (35%). Note these numbers are averages, and different parts of the plant will vary.
Palmitoleic acid has been shown to help soothe inflammation and promote wound healing. It is also naturally found in the fat of our skin.
Learn more about Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed OilHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Limonene 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 LimoneneParfum 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.
Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateWater. 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