What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPersea Gratissima Butter
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Sorbic Acid
PreservativeMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPhytantriol
HumectantLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Diheptyl Succinate, Persea Gratissima Butter, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Panthenol, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Phytantriol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingPolyporus Umbellatus Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSteareth-20
CleansingParfum
MaskingFructose
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Myristate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, Parfum, Fructose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
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%.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitronellol 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 CitronellolGlycerin (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 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 AlcoholLimonene 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 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