What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmodimethicone
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCandelilla Wax Esters
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingBis(C13-15 Alkoxy) Pg-Amodimethicone
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingMilk Protein Extract
Valine
MaskingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantCysteine Hcl
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Candelilla Wax Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cetrimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Bis(C13-15 Alkoxy) Pg-Amodimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Milk Protein Extract, Valine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Cysteine Hcl, Arginine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Threonine, Proline, Methionine, Histidine, Lysine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Parfum, Citronellol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAmodimethicone
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingLactic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
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%.
Butylene 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 GlycolThis 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.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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 ParfumWater. 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