What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAmodimethicone
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-4
Potato Starch Modified
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeArginine
MaskingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantCoumarin
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Polyquaternium-4, Potato Starch Modified, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Behentrimonium Chloride, Arginine, Trideceth-6, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Linalool, Glycine, Serine, Tyrosine, Citric Acid, Glutamic Acid, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSh-Oligopeptide-78
SurfactantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Panthenol, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Behentrimonium Chloride, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Sh-Oligopeptide-78, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, BHT
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 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%.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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