What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Vp/Va Copolymer
Canola Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Phenoxyethyl Caprylate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Dilauryl Thiodipropionate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Caprylyl Glycol, Betaine, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
C15-23 Alkane
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Vp/Va Copolymer
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingC13-14 Alkane
SolventPullulan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Melia Azedarach Fruit Extract
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Parfum, Sodium PCA, C15-23 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Hexylene Glycol, C13-14 Alkane, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lactic Acid, Silica, Tocopherol, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Melia Azedarach Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolVP/VA Copolymer is a synthetic polymer made by joining two smaller molecules (vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate) into a larger chain.
It is mainly used as a film-former and fixing agent. When a product dries, it creates a thin and flexible layer on the skin, hair, or nails. This film helps hold hairstyles into place, adds a smooth feel to skin, and traps moisture to reduce dryness.
Irritation is rare at normal concentrations and it doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
Learn more about Vp/Va CopolymerWater. 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
