What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingStearamine Oxide
CleansingOlealkonium Chloride
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantInositol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientCoconut Alkanes
EmollientPolyquaternium-7
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearamine Oxide, Olealkonium Chloride, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Inositol, Xylitol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Coconut Alkanes, Polyquaternium-7, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Squalane, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-10, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isopropyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
Cetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl 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 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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.
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