What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Amodimethicone
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetic Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Parfum, Laureth-7, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid, Panthenol, Polysorbate 60, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-4
Potato Starch Modified
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Arginine
Masking
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Coumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Polyquaternium-4, Potato Starch Modified, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Behentrimonium Chloride, Arginine, Trideceth-6, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Linalool, Glycine, Serine, Tyrosine, Citric Acid, Glutamic Acid, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholParfum 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.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
