What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isobutane
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingCalcium Pantetheine Sulfonate
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentMannitol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Disodium Succinate
MaskingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Vp/Va Copolymer
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Water, Squalane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Myristyl Myristate, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Octyldodecanol, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Isobutane, Sorbitan Oleate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Calcium Pantetheine Sulfonate, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristyl Alcohol, Cyclodextrin, Mannitol, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Succinate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Yeast Extract, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polysorbate 80, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Vp/Va Copolymer, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 15985, Linalool, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentNiacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Distarch Phosphate, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Titanium Dioxide, Mica
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl 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 AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneParfum 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.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
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 Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
