What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeC15-23 Alkane
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantParfum
MaskingC13-14 Alkane
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Propylparaben
PreservativeEthylparaben
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantRosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
EmollientCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, C15-23 Alkane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Parfum, C13-14 Alkane, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Keratin Amino Acids, Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientC15-23 Alkane
SolventSorbitol
HumectantC13-14 Alkane
SolventTetrasodium EDTA
Amodimethicone
Citric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSilk Amino Acids
HumectantColocasia Antiquorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSymphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Isopropyl Palmitate, C15-23 Alkane, Sorbitol, C13-14 Alkane, Tetrasodium EDTA, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Trideceth-12, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Keratin Amino Acids, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Colocasia Antiquorum Root Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for C13-14 Alkane yet.
We don't have a description for C15-23 Alkane yet.
Cetyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 CinnamalIsopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight emollient made by combining isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
It is an emollient that leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without leaving a greasy feel.
Typical usage concentrations range from 1-5%.
Human testing shows it's non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has cleared it at very high levels (79% in leave-on products).
The one thing worth knowing about its comedogenic score of 3-4 is to keep it in perspective: these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests using 100% of pure ingredient and doesn't reflect how it behaves at low levels in a finished product.
Because it is an ester of palmitic acid (C16), it falls into the range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on and is considered not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl PalmitateWe don't have a description for Keratin Amino Acids yet.
Parfum 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 ParfumWater. 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