What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientHoney
HumectantRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningHoney Extract
HumectantPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Honey Protein
Skin ConditioningGluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningKeratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBisabolol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPPG-4-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Honey, Royal Jelly Extract, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Hydrolyzed Honey Protein, Gluconobacter/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Gamma-Docosalactone, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ceramide Ng, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Water, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientParfum
MaskingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantAmodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventSorbitol
HumectantStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingTrehalose
HumectantSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-15
EmulsifyingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientAcetic Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantSilk Amino Acids
HumectantEthyl Hexanediol
SolventGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantGlutamine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
MaskingCystine
MaskingAsparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingOrnithine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientCysteine
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Parfum, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Trehalose, Steartrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-15, Trideceth-3, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Alcohol Denat., 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acetic Acid, Hydrolyzed Silk, Silk Amino Acids, Ethyl Hexanediol, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Lysine, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Cystine, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Ornithine, Taurine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Cysteine, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Reviews
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 OilButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Keratin is derived from keratin. Keratin is a large protein that is naturally found in our hair and skin.
Studies show keratin is able to seal broken hair cuticles, helping to prevent split ends and breakage.
As a humectant, hydrolyzed keratin helps draw moisture from the air to your hair and skin. This helps keep your skin and hair hydrated.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed KeratinParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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