What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativePropylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAminopropyl Dimethicone
Parfum
MaskingDimethiconol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantQuaternium-91
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLactic Acid
BufferingMalic Acid
BufferingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeGeraniol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Stearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Propylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Parfum, Dimethiconol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexyl Cinnamal, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Geraniol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantPEG-40/PPG-8 Methylaminopropyl/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer
Parfum
MaskingPolyacrylamide
PEG-75 Lanolin
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Polyurethane-34
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTrideceth-9 Pg-Amodimethicone
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingSodium Lauryl Sulfate
CleansingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, PEG-40/PPG-8 Methylaminopropyl/Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Copolymer, Parfum, Polyacrylamide, PEG-75 Lanolin, Glyceryl Stearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyurethane-34, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trideceth-9 Pg-Amodimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dipropylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclodextrin, Trideceth-12, Polysorbate 80, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Amyl Cinnamal, Tocopherol
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDipropylene 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 GlycolHexyl 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 CinnamalLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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