What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPetrolatum
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Polyurethane-39
Disodium EDTA
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
PEG-7 Propylheptyl Ether
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-180m
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Nitrate
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Sulfate
Trehalose
Humectant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Magnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Lactic Acid, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Petrolatum, Amodimethicone, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polyurethane-39, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Chloride, PEG-7 Propylheptyl Ether, PEG-180m, Magnesium Nitrate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Sulfate, Trehalose, Phenylpropanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Propanediol, Silica, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 42090, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Amodimethicone
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPolyquaternium-6
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Steartrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Trideceth-12, Cetrimonium Chloride, Laureth-7, Tetrasodium EDTA, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrated Silica, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Polyquaternium-6, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeParfum 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.
Water. 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
