What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Polyquaternium-73
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Quaternium-87
CleansingIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingJojoba Esters
Emollient
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningAcetic Acid
BufferingGlycereth-26
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEtidronic Acid
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingIsomalt
HumectantQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberTocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Pea Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Propanediol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Isohexadecane, Citric Acid, Parfum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium-73, Sodium Benzoate, Quaternium-87, Isopentyldiol, Disodium EDTA, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Jojoba Esters, C11-15 Pareth-7, Laureth-9, Trideceth-12, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Acetic Acid, Glycereth-26, Sodium Hydroxide, Etidronic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phospholipids, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Isomalt, Quaternium-95, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Alcohol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Amodimethicone
Parfum
Masking
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate Dimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Parfum, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Behentrimonium Chloride, Diheptyl Succinate, Trideceth-12, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol
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 also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholThis water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
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 AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 Trideceth-12 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
