What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetyl Esters
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingGlycine
BufferingPolyquaternium-7
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMalic Acid
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-14m, Dimethiconol, Sodium Citrate, Glycine, Polyquaternium-7, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Malic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningDihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Polyquaternium-64
Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
CleansingGlyoxylic Acid
BufferingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Centifolia Flower Oil
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHematin
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-53
Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientZein
Skin ConditioningLanolin Acid
CleansingPolyquaternium-92
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Diethyl Sebacate
EmollientBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientIsomalt
HumectantArginine
MaskingLecithin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingSorbitol
HumectantPPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine
AntimicrobialCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingDimethiconol
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-8-Ceteth-20
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Gamma-Docosalactone, Hydrogenated Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa Callus Culture Extract, Dihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyquaternium-64, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Glyoxylic Acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hematin, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyquaternium-47, Polyquaternium-53, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Sphingolipids, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Zein, Lanolin Acid, Polyquaternium-92, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Diethyl Sebacate, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Isomalt, Arginine, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Sorbitol, PPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dimethiconol, Silica, Glycerin, Isopropyl Alcohol, PEG-90m, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopentyldiol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol Denat., Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
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.
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 DimethiconeDimethiconol 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.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Keratin is derived from keratin. Keratin is a large protein that is naturally found in our hair and skin.
Studies show keratin is able to seal broken hair cuticles, helping to prevent split ends and breakage.
As a humectant, hydrolyzed keratin helps draw moisture from the air to your hair and skin. This helps keep your skin and hair hydrated.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed KeratinParfum 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 ParfumSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium Citrate