What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceteareth-33
CleansingMannitol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Polyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceteareth-33, Mannitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Cetearyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Tocopherol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDicaprylyl Maleate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Algae Extract
EmollientSea Water
HumectantCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingSpirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningUlva Lactuca Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Algin
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Equisetum Arvense Leaf Powder
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Galericulata Extract
SoothingMorus Nigra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Calluna Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Evernia Furfuracea Extract
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Geraniol
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Isobutylparaben
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dicaprylyl Maleate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Malic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sea Salt, Algae Extract, Sea Water, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycoproteins, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Powder, Polyquaternium-51, Trehalose, Allantoin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Galericulata Extract, Morus Nigra Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Urea, Sodium PCA, Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Calluna Vulgaris Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Steareth-2, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Amyl Cinnamal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Evernia Furfuracea Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria.
This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients.
The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product.
However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap.
Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential.
Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less).
The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products.
One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice from sorbic acid.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
