What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Alumina
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudozyma Epicola/Olive Fruit Oil Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Schinus Terebinthifolia Seed Extract
AstringentPaullinia Cupana Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPtychopetalum Olacoides Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Bentonite
Absorbent
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingPolyisobutene
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyurethane-10
Vanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Silica
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Alumina, CI 77891, Caffeine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Squalane, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Pseudozyma Epicola/Olive Fruit Oil Ferment Filtrate, Schinus Terebinthifolia Seed Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Ptychopetalum Olacoides Bark Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betaine, Bentonite, PEG-40 Stearate, Saccharide Isomerate, Triheptanoin, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Ceteareth-20, Polyisobutene, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Polyurethane-10, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Xylitol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glucose
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingLimonene
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Synthetic Beeswax, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Xylitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Parfum, Alcohol Denat., Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Limonene, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Maltodextrin, Linalool, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl 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 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
