What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hexanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Quassia Amara Wood Extract
Skin ConditioningSpilanthes Acmella Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tapioca Starch
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Lactate
Buffering
Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantParfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexanediol, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Betaine, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Quassia Amara Wood Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Urea, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Tapioca Starch, Arachidyl Glucoside, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, C15-19 Alkane, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Ammonium Lactate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polyglycerin-6, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Methylpropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Trisodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Homosalate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Methylpropanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, BHT, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 ParfumSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTapioca starch is a thickening agent and is made from the cassava root, also known as yucca.
According to a manufacturer, it is an excellent talc replacement.
It is gluten-free.
Learn more about Tapioca StarchWater. 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
