What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-10
Hc Orange No. 5
CI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Polyquaternium-10, Hc Orange No. 5, CI 47005, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Tuna Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hemp Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-10
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Hydrolyzed Hemp Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin 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 ParfumPolyquaternium-10 is an ammonium salt of hydroxyethylcellulose. It is a white and granular powder used as a film-former and anti-static agent.
This ingredient is commonly found in hair conditioning products. According to a manufacturer, its positive charge makes it great for absorbing hair proteins. The manufacturer also states this ingredient helps with curl retention.
For haircare friends: this ingredient is not a silicone.
Learn more about Polyquaternium-10Water. 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
