What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDicocoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Mel
EmollientPropolis Cera
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dicocoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Lactic Acid, Mel, Propolis Cera, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Squalane, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, CI 19140, CI 15510
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Water, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Linalool
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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 ParfumSodium 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 BenzoateWater. 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
