What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Parfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Phytate
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Seed Protein
AntioxidantPhytic Acid
Oryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingPinene
MaskingCitral
PerfumingLemongrass Oil
Water, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Coconut Alkanes, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Phytate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Citric Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Laureth-7, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Panthenol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Phytic Acid, Oryza Sativa Extract, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalyl Acetate, Hexamethylindanopyran, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Pinene, Citral, Lemongrass Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAminopropyl Dimethicone
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePrunus Persica Kernel Oil
EmollientPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Myristyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexylglycerin, Gamma-Docosalactone, Steartrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Prunus Persica Kernel Oil, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 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