What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDicapryl Succinate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantQuaternium-80
Butylene Glycol
HumectantAminopropyl Dimethicone
Laureth-23
CleansingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylparaben
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Myristyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dicapryl Succinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Steartrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium-80, Butylene Glycol, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Alcohol Denat., Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Methylparaben
PreservativeBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropylparaben
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingQuaternium-33
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ag
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Linseed Seed
HumectantCrataegus Monogyna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMethyl Carboxymethylphenyl Aminocarboxypropylphosphonate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPeucedanum Japonicum Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingVaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Methylparaben, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylparaben, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Arginine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Beeswax, Quaternium-33, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alcohol Denat., Phytosterols, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ag, Ceramide NP, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Linseed Seed, Crataegus Monogyna Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Methyl Carboxymethylphenyl Aminocarboxypropylphosphonate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Peucedanum Japonicum Leaf/Stem Extract, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Ceramide EOP, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinMethylparaben is a synthetic preservative and one of the most widely used in the world. It has a simple, but important job: prevent your products from going bad by stopping bacteria, yeast, and mold from growing.
Typical use levels are low, often 0.1-0.3%.
This is also one of the most heavily studied preservatives out there and major regulatory bodies have repeatedly given it the green light.
In 2023, the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) confirmed that this ingredient is safe up to 0.4% on its own, of up to 0.8% when mixed with other paraben esters.
Here's the science behind the noise behind parabens/hormones as well:
Methylparaben shows very weak estrogen-like activity in vitro tests (more than 1,000x weaker than your body's own estradiol). In vivo (live-organism) studies don't support a meaningful endocrine-disrupting effect either.
You get a stronger estrogenic effect from eating tofu, actually.
It's also a low sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon; they usually happen on damage or broken skin.
There is a caveat: France has proposed to formally re-examine its endocrine classification in 2025 so the regulatory conversation isn't fully closed as of yet.
But as it stands today, this ingredient is considered safe at permitted levels.
Learn more about MethylparabenParfum 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 ParfumSteartrimonium Chloride is a preservative.
Water. 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