What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-37
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientVp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Vp/Va Copolymer
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Mel
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Propolis Cera
AntiseborrhoeicTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Polyquaternium-37, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Mel, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Propolis Cera, Triethyl Citrate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer
Polyquaternium-37
Parfum
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bacopa Monnieri Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Dimethiconol
Emollient
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
PEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
PEG-4
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-37, Parfum, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Panthenol, Bacopa Monnieri Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Dimethiconol, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4 Laurate, Sorbitan Oleate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, PEG-4, Butylene Glycol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzalkonium Chloride (aka BAC) is a preservative that has been around since the 1930's. It is also a surfactant that gives it mild cleansing and antistatic properties.
BAC works because it carries a positive electrical charge that attract the negative charge of microbe cells (like a magnet). Once BAC sticks to a microbe, it breaks the microbe cell's outer wall and scrambles its proteins to kill it.
The maximum usage percentage for this ingredient is 0.1% in both the EU and Chinese cosmetic regulations.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be a safe antimicrobial agent in concentrations up to 0.1% and it is permitted up to 3% in rinse off hair products.
BAC can be irritating at higher concentrations but a true allergy to it is pretty rare. Be sure to patch test if you have a damaged skin barrier or just sensitive skin.
Because it's a cation, it is incompatible with anionic surfactants like SLS (they neutralize each other).
Learn more about Benzalkonium ChlorideCetearyl 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 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 AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-37 yet.
We don't have a description for PPG-1 Trideceth-6 yet.
This ingredient is an emollient designed to leave a non-greasy feel. It is also a skin conditioning agent and viscosity modifier.
Skin irritation studies for this ingredient (up to 80%) showed mimimal to no irritation.
One thing worth knowing: this ingredient may enhance the skin penetration of other ingredients.
Overall, this ingredient is a well-tolerated and lightweight emollient.
Learn more about Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/DicaprateWe don't have a description for Vp/Dmapa Acrylates Copolymer 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
