What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethyl Citrate
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingEugenol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Panthenol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Zea Mays Starch, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethyl Citrate, Stearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Potassium Hydroxide, Parfum, Eugenol, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-37
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningLanolin Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Amodimethicone
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingTriticum Vulgare Starch
AbrasiveMel
EmollientCocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-37, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Lanolin Oil, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyquaternium-10, Amodimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Triticum Vulgare Starch, Mel, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetyl 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilPanthenol 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 ParfumWater. 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