What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingStearyl Dimethicone
EmollientCyclomethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingCaprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientOctadecene
SolventStearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLimonene
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientCitral
PerfumingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Palmitic Acid, Octadecene, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Citral, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCeteareth-30
CleansingPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingAcetyl Cedrene
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMethyl Salicylate
PerfumingPinene
MaskingTerpineol
MaskingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingPotassium Phosphate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water
AstringentMaris Aqua
HumectantWater, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ceteareth-30, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Parfum, Acetyl Cedrene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Hexamethylindanopyran, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Linalool, Methyl Salicylate, Pinene, Terpineol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Citrate, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water, Maris Aqua
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateBenzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.
In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".
While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.
However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Benzyl SalicylateCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalParfum 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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