What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Shea Butter Glycerides
Emulsifying
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientPolyester-37
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Disunfloweroylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Silk Amino Acids
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sericin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Lactyl Lactate
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter Glycerides, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Diheptyl Succinate, Polyester-37, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disunfloweroylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Silk, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sericin, Panthenol, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Quaternium-80
Squalane
Emollient
Rosa Canina Seed Extract
EmollientCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenylalanine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Nitrate
SoothingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Bromide, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Quaternium-80, Squalane, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Arginine, Jojoba Esters, Panthenol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Histidine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Phosphatidylcholine, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Nitrate, Tocopherol, Parfum, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
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 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%.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChloridePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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
