What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventMeadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningPCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Alanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-87
CleansingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Pinene
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Amyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Ionone
Astringent
Cyclamen Aldehyde
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Jojoba Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, C13-15 Alkane, Meadowfoam Estolide, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Lactate, Serine, Arginine, Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate, PCA, Glycine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Alanine, Valine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium PCA, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Quaternium-87, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum, Glycolic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Dipropylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene, Citronellol, Amyl Salicylate, Ethylene Brassylate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Ionone, Cyclamen Aldehyde
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Diglycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Trideceth-10
CleansingTea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingLaureth-23
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Trideceth-3
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Acetic Acid
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Isopropyl Myristate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Phenoxyethanol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Diglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Amodimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trideceth-10, Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Laureth-23, Disodium EDTA, Trideceth-3, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
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%.
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.
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseLinalool 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 ParfumThis ingredient is also known as ISO E Super. It is a synthetic perfuming and masking ingredient.
The manufacturer describes this scnet as amber and woody.
According to the EU, this ingredient is a known allergen and some people may develop skin sensitivity from repeated exposure.
Learn more about Tetramethyl AcetyloctahydronaphthalenesWater. 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
