What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDiazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aminopropyl Dimethicone
Parfum
Masking
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantQuaternium-91
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialButylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Geraniol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, 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 ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
ChelatingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Plumeria Acutifolia Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Plumeria Acutifolia Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Levulinate, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene
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.
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 AlcoholLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneWater. 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
