What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentQuaternium-87
CleansingDimethicone
Emollient
CI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingAcetic Acid
BufferingPEG-150/Decyl Alcohol/Smdi Copolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Trideceth-10
CleansingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Amodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distarch Phosphate, Quaternium-87, Dimethicone, CI 60730, CI 60725, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-6, Acetic Acid, PEG-150/Decyl Alcohol/Smdi Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-10, Trideceth-3, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Propylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Sorbitol
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Raspberry Seed Oil
Emollient
PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether
SolventBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
Cleansing
Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
Emollient
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Isomerized Safflower Acid
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Bis-Isobutyl PEG/PPG-10/7/Dimethicone Copolymer
Emulsifying
Dicocodimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingSteartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Arginine
Masking
PEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sorbitol, Isopentyldiol, Hydrogenated Raspberry Seed Oil, PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Isostearic Acid, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Sphingolipids, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Glycolipids, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Gluconolactone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Pentylene Glycol, Isomerized Safflower Acid, Amodimethicone, Bis-Isobutyl PEG/PPG-10/7/Dimethicone Copolymer, Dicocodimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Chloride, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Arginine, PEG-90m
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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
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%.
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
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.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanol 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 Water
