What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Betula Alba Bud Extract
Skin ConditioningMalva Sylvestris Extract
AstringentAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Tussilago Farfara Flower Extract
AstringentUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Betula Alba Bud Extract, Malva Sylvestris Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Tussilago Farfara Flower Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PCA Dimethicone
Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate
Cleansing
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Panthenol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PCA Dimethicone, Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Chlorphenesin, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
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 AlcoholCitric 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 AcidParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
