What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLanolin
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCarrageenan
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantNonfat Dry Milk
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Lanolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Carrageenan, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Tocopherol, Nonfat Dry Milk, Ascorbic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Citric Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantAscorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylpropanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingHydrogen Peroxide
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Palm Glycerides
EmollientBuddleja Davidii Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract
MaskingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Benzyl Salicylate
PerfumingTropolone
Skin ConditioningHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingSorbic Acid
PreservativeAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Diheptyl Succinate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Methylpropanediol, Carbomer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Parfum, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Tropolone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Sorbic Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool
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 lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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.
This ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilWater. 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