What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingAphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
HumectantElaeis Guineensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seedcake Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantPanthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride
Betaine
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingDisodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingGlycol Distearate
EmollientInulin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-4
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePropoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
C11-15 Pareth-7
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract, Elaeis Guineensis Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seedcake Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride, Betaine, Citronellol, Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Geraniol, Glycol Distearate, Inulin, Laureth-4, Linalool, Methyl Gluceth-10, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-47, Potassium Sorbate, Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Trideceth-6, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, C11-15 Pareth-7, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningCetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingElaeis Guineensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-28
Skin ConditioningPanthenyl Ethyl Ether
Soybean Glycerides
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Ascorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCarrageenan
Cetrimonium Bromide
AntimicrobialCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingDimethiconol Meadowfoamate
EmollientGeraniol
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingLinalool
PerfumingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePropoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone
Propylene Glycol
HumectantQuaternium-87
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Cetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-28, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Soybean Glycerides, Acacia Senegal Gum, Phospholipids, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Amodimethicone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Carrageenan, Cetrimonium Bromide, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Dimethiconol Meadowfoamate, Geraniol, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Linalool, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium-87, Sodium Benzoate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Trideceth-12, Trideceth-6, C11-15 Pareth-7, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Another name for this ingredient is C11-15 Alketh-7. It has emulsifying and surfactant properties, meaning it helps keep ingredients together in a formula.
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolElaeis Guineensis fruit extract comes from the palm oil tree. The fruit of the palm tree is often used to create palm oil.
Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolLinalool 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 LinaloolThis oil comes from the outer layer (bran) of rice grains. It is packed with skin-friendly fatty acids to soften and condition the skin while supporting your moisture barrier.
What makes it stand out from other plant oils is its naturally high concentration of gamma-oryzanol, a potent antioxidant. This antioxidant has shown some UV-absorptive properties in research.
Other antioxidants found in this oil include tocopherols, tocotrienols, and ferulic acid.
According to manufacturers, this oil has a lightweight texture that absorbs nicely.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics and it has not shown to be a skin sensitizer in testing (unless you have a known rice allergy).
Due to the fatty acids (primarily Oleic Acid ~40%, Linoleic Acid ~30%, and some Palmitic Acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran OilParfum 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWe don't have a description for Trideceth-6 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