What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-46
Vp/Va Copolymer
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
PEG-8
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-46, Vp/Va Copolymer, Cetrimonium Chloride, PEG-8, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Sodium Gluconate, Parfum, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzophenone-4, Citric Acid, Limonene, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-55
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyltrimonium Honey
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Disodium EDTA
Silk Amino Acids
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOleth-20
CleansingParfum
Masking
Glycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantBenzoic Acid
Masking
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Polyquaternium-55, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Pvp, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Silk Amino Acids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Oleth-20, Parfum, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Caramel, Benzoic Acid, Coumarin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceBenzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria.
This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients.
The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product.
However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap.
Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential.
Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less).
The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products.
One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice from sorbic acid.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidCoumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinPanthenol 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s 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 PropanediolWater. 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
