What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-91
Myristyl Myristate
EmollientDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Propylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningJuglans Regia Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarrageenan
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSalmo Ovum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Quaternium-91, Myristyl Myristate, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Juglans Regia Shell Extract, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-1, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Glycolipids, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Salmo Ovum Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Coumarin, Limonene
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientBis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone
Helichrysum Stoechas Flower Extract
PerfumingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientBetaine
HumectantVanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeQuaternium-91
Myristyl Myristate
EmollientHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone, Helichrysum Stoechas Flower Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Water, Hexylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Betaine, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Behentrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-91, Myristyl Myristate, Hexapeptide-11, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, CI 60725
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%.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is an organic compound that provides UVB protection. It often goes by the more common name of octinoxate. It is created from methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethylhexanol.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate absorbs UVB rays with wavelengths between 280-320 nm. UV absorbers protect your skin by using chemical reactions to convert UV rays into heat and energy.
UVB (290-320 nm) rays emit more energy than UVA rays. They are capable of damaging DNA, causing sunburns and are thought to be linked to skin cancer.
The state of Hawaii has banned sunscreens containing octinoxate due to its potential impact on coral reefs. More research is needed to bridge gaps in this research. The European Union allows higher levels of octinoxate in sunscreens than the US and Australia.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate is oil soluble. It is not stable and may lose efficacy when exposed to sunlight.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolHydrolyzed Soy Protein is a vegan protein made to mimic hydrolyzed collagen. It is created from soy, or glycine soja.
This ingredient is a humectant, meaning it helps hydrate the skin by binding to water. According to a manufacturer, it is also a great hair conditioner.
Read more about hydrolyzed collagen here.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Soy ProteinLimonene 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 LimoneneMyristyl Myristate is created from the fatty acids of myristyl alcohol and myristic acid. In skincare, it is an emollient and texture enhancer.
On its own, this ingredient has a comedogenicity index of 5/5. This means it has the potential to clog pores. When diluted with cetyl alcohol or propylene glycol, the comedogenicity will decrease.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Nutmeg, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil all contain this ingredient naturally.
Learn more about Myristyl MyristateParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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.
We don't have a description for Quaternium-91 yet.
Water. 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