What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
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Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Stearate
Emollient
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride
HumectantPolyquaternium-4
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
C9-12 Alkane
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Hyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantChlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Stearate, Lactobacillus, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-4, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, C9-12 Alkane, Squalane, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Chlorella Ferment, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Panthenol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sodium Laneth-40 Maleate/Styrene Sulfonate Copolymer, Parfum, Caramel, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Coumarin, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingCocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Extract
EmollientEleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract
AstringentRhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Extract, Eleutherococcus Senticosus Root Extract, Rhaponticum Carthamoides Root Extract, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Phytate, Propanediol, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Butylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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 PhenoxyethanolPotassium 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 SorbateWater. 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
