What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantAmodimethicone
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPolyquaternium-11
Piroctone Olamine
PreservativeArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Trideceth-12, Butylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-11, Piroctone Olamine, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Polysorbate 60, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Collagen Pg-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Sargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingPalmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingHimanthalia Elongata Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingPelvetia Canaliculata Extract
Skin ProtectingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativePentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate
EmollientPPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientPropylparaben
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Silk
HumectantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Silk, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate is an ammonium salt. It is mainly used to prevent static in haircare products as a surfactant.
Surfactants have differing ends: one side is hydrophilic while the other end is hydrophobic.
Surfactants also help your cleansers remove pollutants more easily from the skin.
Learn more about Behentrimonium MethosulfateBenzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCetearyl 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 a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 GlycerinParfum 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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