What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Quaternium-87
CleansingPolyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-37
Polyquaternium-80
CleansingCocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Didecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Isododecane, Behentrimonium Chloride, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Squalane, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Benzalkonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Quaternium-87, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-37, Polyquaternium-80, Cocamide Mipa, Caprylyl Glycol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Methylpropanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Limonium Gerberi Extract
Skin ProtectingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zeolite
AbsorbentTapioca Starch
Kaolin
Abrasive
Polyquaternium-37
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Limonium Gerberi Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zeolite, Tapioca Starch, Kaolin, Polyquaternium-37, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Diheptyl Succinate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Parfum
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%.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl 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 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 AcidIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneThis ingredient is an emollient with skin conditioning properties.
According to the manufacturer, it is light, non-greasy, spreadable, and has the ability to act as a "silicone alternative".
Parfum 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 ParfumWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-37 yet.
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
