What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate
Squalane
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientHydroxyethyl Diethylenetriamine Dioleamide/Palmitamide
Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningPhytantriol
HumectantFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate, Squalane, Jojoba Esters, Hydroxyethyl Diethylenetriamine Dioleamide/Palmitamide, Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglycerin-3, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl, Phytantriol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl Esters
EmollientMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialC13-15 Alkane
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialChlorophyllin-Copper Complex
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cetyl Esters, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Triheptanoin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Pyridoxine Hcl, Panthenol, Diheptyl Succinate, Cetrimonium Chloride, C13-15 Alkane, Citric Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Limonene, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 75120
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%.
C13-15 Alkane is a group of alkanes with 13 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
It is a solvent and texture enhancer. Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideLimonene 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 LimoneneParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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