What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Arginine, Dicaprylyl Ether, Coco-Glucoside, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Citronellol, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningBrassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningC13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Artocarpus Heterophyllus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Polyurethane-100
Propanediol
Solvent
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-25
CleansingCeteareth-7
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Fumaric Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Triheptanoin, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Cetyl Esters, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Parfum, Behentrimonium Chloride, Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone, Jojoba Esters, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Artocarpus Heterophyllus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-37, Heptyl Undecylenate, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polyurethane-100, Propanediol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Ceteareth-25, Ceteareth-7, Tocopherol, Polyglycerin-3, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Fumaric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Diisostearyl Malate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
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 AlcoholLinalool 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopherol 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
