What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer
Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCeteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Amara Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
MaskingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Vp/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer, Beeswax, Pvp, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Aminomethyl Propanol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Amara Seed Extract, Trideceth-6, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Protein, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Wheat Amino Acids, Phenylpropanol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialVp/Va Copolymer
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Stearic Acid
CleansingOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingPalmitic Acid
EmollientHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantStearyl Stearate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alcohols
EmollientPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Petrolatum, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Vp/Va Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Stearic Acid, Ozokerite, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Steareth-21, Glycerin, Stearyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Parfum, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, C12-15 Alcohols, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl 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 GlycolCopernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
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 Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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