What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientGarcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Polyquaternium-11
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Glycine Soja Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Amyl Cinnamal, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyquaternium-11
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceteth-10 Phosphate
CleansingStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningCystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLinalool
Perfuming
Potassium PCA
Humectant
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-11, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Benzophenone-4, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Arginine, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sodium Chloride, Linalool, Potassium PCA, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholWe don't have a description for Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein yet.
Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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.
We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-11 yet.
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
