What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCholesteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
PerfumingHydrolyzed Actin
Skin ConditioningKeratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantQuaternium-76 Hydrolyzed Collagen
Skin ConditioningSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPolyquaternium-10
Aminopropyl Dimethicone
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDiethyl Sebacate
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate
MoisturisingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Cholesteryl Oleate, Levulinic Acid, Hydrolyzed Actin, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Quaternium-76 Hydrolyzed Collagen, Steartrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Polyquaternium-10, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Diethyl Sebacate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, PCA Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate, Sodium Levulinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientQuaternium-18
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePropanediol
SolventSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Myristyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sorbitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Gamma-Docosalactone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Beeswax, Silica Silylate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Quaternium-18, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propanediol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 ParfumPropanediol 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 PropanediolSteartrimonium Chloride is a preservative.
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