What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-8/3 Laurate
EmulsifyingDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-37
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingPropanediol
Solvent
Gluconic Acid
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, PEG/PPG-8/3 Laurate, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-37, Isopentyldiol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Propanediol, Gluconic Acid, Zea Mays Starch, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Linalool
Perfuming
Glycerin
Humectant
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientSilicone Quaternium-22
Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoceth-7
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Isopentyldiol, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer, Isoamyl Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Squalane, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Selaginella Lepidophylla Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lactobacillus Ferment, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Glycerin, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Parfum, Isohexadecane, Silicone Quaternium-22, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Dipropylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coceth-7, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsopentyldiol is a synthetic solvent, humectant, and emollient.
Humectants have the ability to attract and hold water while emollients create a thin film to prevent water from evaporating. This combination keeps your skin and hair soft and hydrated. Plus, isopentyldiol does not leave a sticky feeling behind.
As a surfactant, isopentyldiol is a hydrotrope. Hydrotropes help surfactants (cleansing agents) dissolve into water.
According to the manufacturer, using this ingredient with sorbitol boosts skin hydration and helps close cuticles of damaged hair.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about IsopentyldiolLimonene 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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
