What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPvp
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientPerfluorononyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingVinyl Caprolactam/Vp/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylic Acid
CleansingXylitol
HumectantHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMoringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCereus Grandiflorus Extract
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantPhalaenopsis Amabilis Flower Extract
BleachingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Propanediol, Pvp, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Dimethicone, Perfluorononyl Dimethicone, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Vinyl Caprolactam/Vp/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylic Acid, Xylitol, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Cereus Grandiflorus Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Phalaenopsis Amabilis Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAlcohol
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePrunus Persica Kernel Oil
EmollientPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasivePimpinella Anisum Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Myristyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Steartrimonium Chloride, Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gamma-Docosalactone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Prunus Persica Kernel Oil, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Water, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, 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 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 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 ButterDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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.
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