What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientDicocoyl Pentaerythrityl Distearyl Citrate
EmollientParfum
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientQuaternium-87
CleansingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMaleic Acid
BufferingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningThioctamidoethyl Dimethylamine Maleate
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Lactic Acid
BufferingCoumarin
PerfumingRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dicocoyl Pentaerythrityl Distearyl Citrate, Parfum, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Quaternium-87, Isopropyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Maleic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Disodium EDTA, Oryza Sativa Cera, Thioctamidoethyl Dimethylamine Maleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Lactic Acid, Coumarin, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin ConditioningPapain
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Pea Protein
EmollientHydrolyzed Pea Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantZinc Picolinate
SoothingMaltodextrin
AbsorbentAlcohol
AntimicrobialIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventButyloctanol
HumectantSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin ConditioningUndeceth-11
EmollientUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSorbic Acid
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoumarin
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Panthenol, Bromelain, Papain, Ananas Sativus Fruit Juice, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Rice Amino Acids, Keratin Amino Acids, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Zinc Picolinate, Maltodextrin, Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Butyloctanol, Silicone Quaternium-16, Undeceth-11, Undeceth-5, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is a fragrance. It can be synthetically created or naturally occurring.
The scent of Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is described as "flowery" but can also be "woody".
Naturally occurring Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone may be found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or the yeast used to make wine and bread.
The term '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.
Learn more about Alpha-Isomethyl IononeThis 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%.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCoumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
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.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholParfum 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 ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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