What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDistearyldimonium Chloride
Silicone Quaternium-16
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingUndeceth-11
EmollientButyloctanol
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingWater, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Silicone Quaternium-16, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Undeceth-11, Butyloctanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Undeceth-5, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Citric Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlycerylamidoethyl Methacrylate/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
HumectantCyclomethicone
EmollientTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingSilicon
AbrasiveQuaternium-16
Undeceth-11
EmollientButyloctanol
HumectantUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientWater, Alcohol Denat., Polysorbate 80, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Glycerin, Glycerylamidoethyl Methacrylate/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Cyclomethicone, Trideceth-12, Silicon, Quaternium-16, Undeceth-11, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, Phenyl Trimethicone, Carbomer, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilWe don't have a description for Butyloctanol yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Undeceth-11 yet.
We don't have a description for Undeceth-5 yet.
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