What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicEugenia Uniflora Fruit Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Gardenia Taitensis Flower
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Amodimethicone, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Biotin, Eugenia Uniflora Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Bromide, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Coumarin, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-55
Parfum
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Thymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Flower Extract
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Polyquaternium-55, Parfum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilBehentrimonium 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 MethosulfateCetearyl 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.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinCitric 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 AcidCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
