What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingBis-PCA Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC12-16 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate
Cleansing
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Citric Acid
Buffering
Etidronic Acid
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Myristyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Aminomethyl Propanol, Bis-PCA Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-16 Pareth-9, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Oleate, Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate, Trideceth-12, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Citric Acid, Etidronic Acid, Lauryl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyquaternium-37
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
Amodimethicone
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Esters, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-37, Paraffinum Liquidum, Citric Acid, Arginine, Amodimethicone, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Limonene, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Ceramide AP
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 AcidLimonene 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
