What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Diethylhexyl Sebacate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningZinc Glycinate
BufferingTaurine
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantThreonine
Valine
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningSodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveIsostearic Acid
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantQuaternium-18
SurfactantQuaternium-33
Cholesterol
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingDiethylhexyl Sebacate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Propolis Extract, Gamma-Docosalactone, Zinc Glycinate, Taurine, Lysine Hcl, Alanine, Arginine, Histidine Hcl, Serine, Proline, Glutamic Acid, Threonine, Valine, Leucine, Glycine, Allantoin, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Sodium Bicarbonate, Isostearic Acid, Water, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium-18, Quaternium-33, Cholesterol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantKeratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantSericin
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-61
Skin ConditioningPCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate
MoisturisingSodium PCA
HumectantPolylysine
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Phytosterols
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-33
Water
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDistearyldimonium Chloride
Alcohol
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventParfum
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sericin, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Polyquaternium-61, PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate, Sodium PCA, Polylysine, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Phytosterols, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Gamma-Docosalactone, Quaternium-33, Water, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Diisostearyl Malate, Pentylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Alcohol, Propanediol, Parfum
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 also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCeramide AP is is a skin-identical lipid that mimics what your skin already makes naturally. Ceramides help maintain epidermal integrity and barrier function.
You'll often see this ingredient paired with other ceramides (like ceramide NP), cholesterol, or fatty acids because this combination best mimics the natural lipid mix your skin already has.
The skin's ability to produce ceramides gets disrupted in skin conditions like eczema. This in turn weakens the skin barrier and applying ceramides topically has been shown to replenish what's been lost to restore barrier function.
Most of the studies with Ceramide AP test it as part of a multi-ceramide complex; studies reinforce ceramide AP's role in rebalancing ceramides in skin and improving skin hydration.
Learn more about Ceramide APCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPCholesterol is a lipid that is naturally found in human skin and is one of the three key components of your skin barrier. In skincare, it is an emollient and barrier-repairing ingredient.
It works by fitting directly into the lipid layers of skin to help restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
This is a great ingredient for dry, compromised, or aging skin; our skin starts to produce less cholesterol with age.
Research shows cholesterol works best in combination with ceramides and fatty acids, the other two major components in your skin barrier.
Cholesterol is also a well-establish penetration enhancer and can help other actives absorb more effectively.
Cosmetic-grade cholesterol is usually derived from lanolin but plant and synthetic options also exist. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about their source of cholesterol.
Learn more about CholesterolWe don't have a description for Gamma-Docosalactone yet.
Hydrolyzed Keratin is derived from keratin. Keratin is a large protein that is naturally found in our hair and skin.
Studies show keratin is able to seal broken hair cuticles, helping to prevent split ends and breakage.
As a humectant, hydrolyzed keratin helps draw moisture from the air to your hair and skin. This helps keep your skin and hair hydrated.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed KeratinYou can find hydrolyzed silk in both haircare and skincare products. According to a manufacturer, it can help improve skin and hair hydration.
This ingredient is created by adding acid or enzymes to 'hydrolyze' silk protein.
Due to the origins of this ingredient, it is not vegan. Silk is an animal product from silkworms.
Depending on the source, this ingredient can be considered cruelty-free. It is created from left-over cocoons of silkworms. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about where their hydrolyzed silk comes from.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed SilkParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Quaternium-33 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