What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTricaprylyl Citrate
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingPropanediol
SolventCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer
HumectantParfum
MaskingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tricaprylyl Citrate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Squalane, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Bentonite
AbsorbentHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientLanolin Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLanolin Cera
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCera Alba
EmollientC18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientPEG-40 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPotassium Stearate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingEchinacea Purpurea Extract
MoisturisingGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrated Silica
AbrasivePvp
Emulsion StabilisingDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Nylon-10/10
Laurtrimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Vp/Va Copolymer, Bentonite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Lanolin Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lanolin Cera, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cera Alba, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Tribehenin, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, CI 77891, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrated Silica, Pvp, Diheptyl Succinate, Benzophenone-4, Isopropyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Nylon-10/10, Laurtrimonium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate is an ammonium salt. It is mainly used to prevent static in haircare products as a surfactant.
Surfactants have differing ends: one side is hydrophilic while the other end is hydrophobic.
Surfactants also help your cleansers remove pollutants more easily from the skin.
Learn more about Behentrimonium MethosulfateBenzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
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 Benzyl AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholParfum 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.
Potassium 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 SorbateWater. 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