What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyimide-1
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-37
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Disiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Polyimide-1, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Sorbic Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Amodimethicone
Oleth-10
EmulsifyingPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Parfum
Masking
Isododecane
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
Humectant
Sargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingAlgin
Masking
Carrageenan
Chitosan
Apigenin
Antioxidant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Oleth-20
CleansingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-59
UV AbsorberSorbitol
Humectant
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Oleth-10, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Polyacrylamide, Parfum, Isododecane, Isohexadecane, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Panthenol, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Glycerin, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Algin, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Apigenin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Oleth-20, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyquaternium-59, Sorbitol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, BHT
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeParfum 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 ParfumPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
