What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningRhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientVp/Va Copolymer
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSteareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTropolone
Skin ConditioningCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Vp/Va Copolymer
Diethylhexyl Maleate
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingVinyl Caprolactam/Vp/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
PEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Water, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cera Alba, Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Diethylhexyl Maleate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Ozokerite, Vinyl Caprolactam/Vp/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, PEG-90m, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Copernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolVP/VA Copolymer is a synthetic polymer made by joining two smaller molecules (vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate) into a larger chain.
It is mainly used as a film-former and fixing agent. When a product dries, it creates a thin and flexible layer on the skin, hair, or nails. This film helps hold hairstyles into place, adds a smooth feel to skin, and traps moisture to reduce dryness.
Irritation is rare at normal concentrations and it doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
Learn more about Vp/Va CopolymerWater. 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
