What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCera Alba
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientEthylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Arginine
MaskingLauric Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingArachidic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Cera Alba, Synthetic Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexyl Polyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Jojoba Esters, Acacia Senegal Gum, Panthenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Arginine, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
HumectantAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Chloride
MaskingHydrogen Dimethicone
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativeAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePropylene Carbonate
SolventBHT
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Potassium Sorbate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholWater. 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