What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventPotassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientTapioca Starch
Undecane
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Laurate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingCetyl Ricinoleate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEchinacea Purpurea Root Extract
MoisturisingEchinacea Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEchinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningTridecane
PerfumingGlyceryl Oleate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingFarnesol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glycerin, Propanediol, Potassium Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Tapioca Starch, Undecane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lactobacillus, Parfum, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Laurate, Triethylhexanoin, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Tridecane, Glyceryl Oleate, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Farnesol, Hydroxycitronellal
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
EmollientUndecane
EmollientMaclura Cochinchinensis Leaf Prenylflavonoids
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Avium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin ConditioningP-Anisic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLevulinic Acid
PerfumingFructose
HumectantTridecane
PerfumingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingPropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Myristyl Myristate, Undecane, Maclura Cochinchinensis Leaf Prenylflavonoids, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Prunus Avium Flower Extract, Inulin, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Parfum, Levulinic Acid, Fructose, Tridecane, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCetearyl 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateOryza Sativa Bran Extract comes from the outer layer of a rice kernel. It is a byproduct of milling rice, or the operation to produce a whole grain rice product.
This ingredient has moisturizing properties due to its components of polysaccharides and omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains calcium, selenium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract contains numerous antioxidants such as ferulic acid. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa Bran ExtractParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skinâs lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTridecane is a lightweight emollient and fragrancing ingredient. It is a paraffin and often called a silicone alternative.
According to official INCI guidelines, this ingredient is used to give a light odor to raw materials. It is often used as a starter ingredient to create parfum.
This ingredient can be derived from palm oil, or coconut oil. It is also naturally found in certain species of organisms.
According to the NOAA, this ingredient can cause skin sensitivity with prolonged use. However, this warning is taken from the Coast Guard and no studies have been done on this in relation to cosmetics.
Tridecane is not water soluble.
Learn more about TridecaneUndecane is an emollient and helps create a lightweight base for products.
Is is not soluble in water and naturally occurring in some species.
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