What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientAmodimethicone
Dimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmodimethicone
Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate
PEG-7 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyester-11
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingTrideceth-15
EmulsifyingAlgin
MaskingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Phosphate
BufferingPullulan
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantUrea
BufferingWater, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate, PEG-7 Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Laureth-7, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Silk Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Polyester-11, Polysorbate 20, Trideceth-3, Trideceth-15, Algin, Benzophenone-4, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Phosphate, Pullulan, Rose Extract, Serine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Urea
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
Behentrimonium Methosulfate is an ammonium salt. It is mainly used to prevent static in haircare products as a surfactant.
Surfactants have differing ends: one side is hydrophilic while the other end is hydrophobic.
Surfactants also help your cleansers remove pollutants more easily from the skin.
Learn more about Behentrimonium MethosulfateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolParfum 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 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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