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
Copernicia 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 made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
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 or alcohol, 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.
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