What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG-8 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Urea, Paraffinum Liquidum, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-8 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Polybutene
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tapioca Starch
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPantolactone
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Polybutene, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tapioca Starch, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Parfum
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl 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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholDimethicone 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 DimethiconeParfum 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 a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
