What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Esters
EmollientSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDilauryl Thiodipropionate
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Lemon Protein
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSalicylic Acid
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Niacinamide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Trideceth-6, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pyridoxine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Lemon Protein, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, CI 15985, CI 19140, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAmodimethicone
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantPolyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCollagen
MoisturisingElastin
Skin ConditioningKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantLysine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingThreonine
Serine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantProline
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingValine
MaskingMethionine
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingCysteine
AntioxidantLactobacillus/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Ferment Filtrate
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Steartrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Silk, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Collagen, Elastin, Keratin Amino Acids, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Lysine, Histidine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Cysteine, Lactobacillus/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
Reviews
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera OilThis ingredient is a plant-derived protein made by breaking down wheat proteins into smaller amino acids and peptides. It has skin and hair conditioning properties.
People with known wheat allergy or a history of immediate reactions should be cautious with leave-on products containing hydrolyzed wheat proteins.
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 ParfumWater. 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