What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Propylene Glycol
HumectantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantSilk Amino Acids
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG-8 Methicone
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Polyacrylamide, Propylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Silk Amino Acids, Sodium PCA, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-8 Methicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Laureth-7, Hexylene Glycol, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Geraniol, CI 19140, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingOleth-5
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSqualane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isoceteth-20, Oleth-5, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Linalool
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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Hexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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