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 ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Quaternium-87
CleansingParfum
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Malus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein Extract
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Barley Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Beeswax, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopentyldiol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Quaternium-87, Parfum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caffeine, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Milk Protein Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetearyl 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 GlycerinParfum 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
