What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Olivate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPolyquaternium-7
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Polyacrylamide
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Polyquaternium-37, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Copper Tripeptide-1, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Bisstearamide Mea, Hydroxypropyl Bislauramide Mea, Phytosterols, Phytosphingosine, Biotin, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Potassium Olivate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Parfum, Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyquaternium-7, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Maltodextrin, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Triticum Vulgare Protein
BufferingHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Triticum Vulgare Protein, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Isopropyl Myristate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Steareth-20, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholWe don't have a description for Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate yet.
We don't have a description for Hydroxypropylgluconamide yet.
Parfum 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 ParfumSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
