What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDextran
Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Panthenol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Dextran, Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
CleansingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingAdansonia Digitata Oil
EmollientMauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientCaryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientCinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Dextran
Citric Acid
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Butylene Glycol
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeXylitol
HumectantCaprylic Acid
CleansingSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isoamyl Laurate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Caryocar Brasiliense Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Dextran, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Xylitol, Caprylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This biometic peptide is designed to support hair growth.
According to a manufacturer, it stimulates hair growth by:
The manufacturer has found combining this ingredient with red clover extract (Capixyl) boosted benefits. Not only does it enforce the scalp's extracellular matrix, it also inhibits the enzyme that creates DHT, a hormone that leads to hair loss.
While this ingredient is promising, more research is still needed to confirm its full effectiveness.
Learn more about Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3This 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%.
Butylene 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDextran is a sugar (polysaccharide) with skin hydrating properties.
Fun fact: Louis Pasteur first discovered this ingredient as a microbial product in wine.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinThis extract comes from the flower more commonly known as red clover.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water