What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Esters
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPanthenyl Ethyl Ether
Sodium PCA
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientPantethine
EmollientPotassium Stearate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behentrimonium Chloride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Sodium PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethiconol, Pantethine, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmodimethicone
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetyl Esters
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventMentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantMenthol
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Butter
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinic Acid
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberLinalool
PerfumingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, Isopropyl Alcohol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Trideceth-6, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Menthol, Simmondsia Chinensis Butter, Limonene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Benzophenone-4, Linalool, Pentylene Glycol, Wheat Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Mentha Piperita Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Esters is a synthetic wax made up of mostly fatty acids and fatty alcohols. It is strcturally similar to wax taken from whales.
As an emollient, it creates a thin barrier on the skin. This barrier prevents moisture from escaping.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Cetyl EstersDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAWe don't have a description for Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol yet.
Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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