What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingParfum
MaskingCetyl Acetate
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientAcetylated Lanolin Alcohol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Distearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientLactose
HumectantMel
EmollientMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPropylene Glycol
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTriceteareth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Cetyl Acetate, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ethoxydiglycol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glyceryl Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactose, Mel, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Tromethamine, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientUrea
BufferingIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Isopropyl Myristate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylamide
Polysorbate 60
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
MaskingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Urea, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cera Alba, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 60, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-7, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxycitronellal
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
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 LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParaffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.
Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.
As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.
The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).
A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.
Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.
Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Paraffinum LiquidumParfum 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.
Water. 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