What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsobutane
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialStearyl Alcohol
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientButane
Propane
Paraffinum Liquidum
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Dimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeTrisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingWater, Isobutane, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Butane, Propane, Paraffinum Liquidum, Petrolatum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, DMDM Hydantoin, Trisodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Isobutane
Propane
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
HumectantSargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantAlgin
MaskingCarrageenan
Chitosan
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingOleth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyquaternium-4
Parfum
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientLaureth-4
EmulsifyingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCetrimonium Bromide
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientSilicone Quaternium-3
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPolyurethane-14
Sorbitol
HumectantAmp-Acrylates Copolymer
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Vp/Va Copolymer, Isobutane, Propane, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Glycerin, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Algin, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Oleth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-4, Parfum, Cetyl Alcohol, Laureth-4, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cetrimonium Bromide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristyl Alcohol, Silicone Quaternium-3, Arachidyl Alcohol, Trideceth-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Polyurethane-14, Sorbitol, Amp-Acrylates Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Arachidyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol made from the the arachidic acid found in peanut oil.
Despite having "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethanol.
This ingredient is a multitasker:
Just be sure to patch this ingredient if you have a peanut allergy (though this ingredient is highly processed and the allergenic proteins are typically removed).
Learn more about Arachidyl AlcoholCetyl 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.
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 GlycerinThis ingredient is a low-molecular weight gas using as a propellant in foams, sprays, and mousses.
It is not intended to interact with skin in a meaningful way as it evaporates almost immediately after dispensing and only leaving behind the actual product formula.
If it does somehow make it onto your skin, it is chemically inert and does not penetrate or get absorbed into skin. Safety assessments note that adverse skin reactions to this ingredient are uncommon.
Learn more about IsobutaneMyristyl Alcohol is type of fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
As an emollient, myristyl alcohol hydrates the skin by trapping moisture in.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols.
The FDA allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Myristyl 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 ParfumThis ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilPropane is a gas derived from petroleum and natural gas. In cosmetics, its only used as an aerosol propellant (it pushes your product out of the can when you press the nozzle).
That's why you'll find it in hair sprays, dry shampoos, deodorants, mousses, shaving foams, and sunscreen sprays.
It is volatile, meaning it only remains on skin for less than 10 seconds before evaporating. It doesn't really linger long enough on skin to act as a skincare ingredient in any meaningful way.
Hairspray concentrations are between 6-17%.
The CIR Expert Panel concluded it to be safe as a cosmetic ingredient under present concentration and usage.
Learn more about PropaneStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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