What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Lactate
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingIsostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Lactate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Parfum, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Glycine Soja Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, CI 42090, CI 19140, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter
EmollientHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventMagnesium Nitrate
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingMagnesium Chloride
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Citric Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Magnesium Nitrate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Magnesium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, 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.
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 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 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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholHydrolyzed Rice Protein is protein extracted from rice. This ingredient is rich in antioxidants and peptides.
Studies show this ingredient may help with blocking the melanin creation process when skin is exposed to UV.
Limonene 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 LimonenePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 SorbateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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