What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Propylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeArginine PCA
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingPropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Myristyl Alcohol, Water, Parfum, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydroxycitronellal, Phenoxyethanol, Arginine PCA, Behentrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citronellol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
EmulsifyingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingQuaternium-91
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingCetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-37
Benzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEtidronic Acid
Ascorbic Acid
AntioxidantPhytantriol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Quaternium-91, Sodium Benzoate, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-37, Benzyl Benzoate, Etidronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Phytantriol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
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, 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.
Parfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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