What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate
EmollientPCA
Humectant
Myrica Cerifera Fruit Wax
EmollientSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Valine
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Quaternium-87
CleansingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Cetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Behentrimonium Chloride, Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Ethylhexanoate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cetyl Alcohol, Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate, PCA, Myrica Cerifera Fruit Wax, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Jojoba Esters, Arginine, Polyglycerin-3, Glycine, Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate, Alanine, Serine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Valine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Proline, Threonine, Quaternium-87, Isoleucine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Parfum, Glycolic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCedrus Atlantica Bark Extract
Perfuming
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propanediol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetyl Palmitate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene
Reviews
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.
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 AlcoholThis 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 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 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
