What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaffeine
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventAmodimethicone
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biotin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-13 Pareth-3, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, C12-13 Pareth-23, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate
Quaternium-91
Hydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantApigenin
AntioxidantOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeMyristyl Myristate
EmollientPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Triethylmonium Dimethicone PEG-8 Succinate, Quaternium-91, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Behentrimonium Chloride, Myristyl Myristate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citric Acid
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%.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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