What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Trideceth-5
EmulsifyingLactic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-95, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Trideceth-5, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Quaternium-91
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Vulcanorum Fruit Extract
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Iris Sibirica Root Extract
HumectantHesperis Sibirica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Acid Violet 43
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Vaccinium Vulcanorum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Iris Sibirica Root Extract, Hesperis Sibirica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum, Acid Violet 43, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
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.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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
