What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-37
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPereskia Aculeata Callus Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Alanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Threonine
Valine
MaskingCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Irvingia Gabonensis Kernel Butter
Skin Conditioning
Momordica Cochinchinensis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Phytic Acid
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientSodium PCA
Humectant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingEthyl Oleate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventPolyquaternium-68
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Lignosulfonate
Galactoarabinan
Caprylic Acid
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Carbonate
BufferingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-37, Isopropyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Pereskia Aculeata Callus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Valine, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Gluconolactone, Irvingia Gabonensis Kernel Butter, Momordica Cochinchinensis Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Panthenol, PCA, Phytic Acid, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Sodium PCA, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Trehalose, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Triheptanoin, Xylitol, Ethyl Linoleate, Octyldodecanol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ethyl Oleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, C13-16 Isoalkane, Polyquaternium-68, Sodium Phosphate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Lignosulfonate, Galactoarabinan, Caprylic Acid, Propanediol, Sorbitan Oleate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Sodium Carbonate, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningIlex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glycerin
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Anise Alcohol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Cetyl Esters, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bisabolol, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Anise Alcohol, Coumarin
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%.
Caprylyl 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.
Coumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides isn't fungal acne safe.
Linalool 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 LinaloolOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
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 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
