What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Dimethicone
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Persea Gratissima Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citral, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEmulsifying Wax
Amodimethicone
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantSilk Amino Acids
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingHc Yellow No. 10
Water, Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax, Amodimethicone, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Behentrimonium Chloride, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methyl Gluceth-20, Silk Amino Acids, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Hc Yellow No. 10
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 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.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 ParfumPersea Gratissima Oil is also known as avocado oil.
Avocado Oil has antioxidant properties. It is mostly made up of the glycerides of fatty acids. About 67% of these fatty acids is made up of oleic acid. Palmitic acid and linoleic acid are also present.
These fatty acids help hydrate and soften the skin. It may increase collagen content in the skin. Collagen helps keep your skin plump and firm. This ingredient helps reduce inflammation and has not shown to clog pores.
This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe due to its high fatty acid content.
Avocados also have B vitamins, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
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