What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientZea Mays Oil
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPolycaprolactone
StabilisingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, CI 15985, CI 19140, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydroxycitronellal, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Aspartate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Polyacrylamide, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polycaprolactone, Panthenol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Zinc Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Copper Gluconate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Laureth-7, Hexyl Cinnamal, Glycine Soja Oil, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Isostearate
EmollientPolyacrylamide
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRetinyl Propionate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientAmmonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasiveAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylparaben
PreservativeStearic Acid
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantPropylparaben
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Polyacrylamide, Titanium Dioxide, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Propionate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ascorbic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyethylene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylparaben, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholC13-14 Isoparaffin is a synthetic emollient, solvent, and thickening agent. It helps soften skin and improves spreadability without leaving a greasy residue.
This ingredient has been found to be non-sensitizing and safe for use in cosmetics.
Two things floating around online that cause fear-mongering:
There's one scary-sounding study related to kidney tumors in male rats; this depends on a protein called alpha-2u-globulin that binds the ingredient and clogs up kidney cells. Female rats barely make this protein, and humans don't make it at all so this effect cannot happen to us. Regulatory bodies have states this rat-only pathway shouldn't be used to judge human risk.
The other thing you'll see is 1,4-dioxane being a trace byproduct that can form during manufacturing of petroleum-derived ingredients. This is a real, but heavily managed/monitored issue. This byproduct is removed through purification steps before the ingredients goes into the formula. Regulatory bodies also actively monitor residual levels for safety.
One last thing to note: this ingredient is a pure hydrocarbon with no fatty-acid or ester chains for Malassezia to feed on, so it's considered fungal acne safe.
Learn more about C13-14 IsoparaffinCetyl 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 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 GlycerinLaureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
This ingredient is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamideTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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