What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cera Alba
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Perfuming
Algae
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventIsohexadecane
EmollientLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltitol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Zea Mays Starch, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Paraffinum Liquidum, PEG-100 Stearate, Cera Alba, Sorbitol, Myristyl Myristate, Zea Mays Oil, PEG-14m, Cera Microcristallina, Paraffin, Algae, Sorbitan Tristearate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isohexadecane, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Adenosine, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Maltitol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Octyldodecanol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
PEG-75 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Acmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Parfum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, PEG-75 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Jojoba Esters, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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.
This ingredient is the oil from the apricot.
Apricot Kernel Oil is an emollient and helps soften skin. This is due to its fatty acid components. Some of these fatty acids include linoleic and oleic acid.
This ingredient also has antioxidant properties from Vitamins A, C, and E. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Besides being antioxidants, these vitamins provide plenty of skin benefits as well.
Learn more about Prunus Armeniaca Kernel OilSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
