What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCarboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin
Squalane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyisobutene
Isostearyl Alcohol
EmollientLauryl Betaine
CleansingDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientAdenosine Phosphate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polyacrylate-13, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Carboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Isostearyl Alcohol, Lauryl Betaine, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Dimethiconol, Adenosine Phosphate, Tocopherol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCeteareth-15
EmulsifyingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-2
CleansingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Carboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin
Polyquaternium-65
Emulsion StabilisingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningLauryl Betaine
CleansingQuaternium-80
PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAminopropyl Dimethicone
Amodimethicone
Propylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantEthanolamine Glycerophosphate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethiconol
EmollientMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Ceteareth-15, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Laureth-2, Laureth-9, Steartrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Carboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin, Polyquaternium-65, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ceramide Ns, Cholesterol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Lauryl Betaine, Quaternium-80, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethanolamine Glycerophosphate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethiconol, Methylparaben, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolWe don't have a description for Carboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin yet.
Cyclomethicone is a class of silicones used to improve the texture of products.
Their cyclic or circular structure decreases stability. This causes quick evaporation when applied to skin. Cyclomethicones are often used as a carrier for other ingredients. Once it evaporates, it leaves a silky barrier on the skin.
The most popular types of cyclomethicones include D5 and D6.
Learn more about CyclomethiconeDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
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 DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Lauryl Betaine is a cleansing ingredient. You'll most likely see it in face washes, body washes, and shampoos. It's a type of surfactant that helps water mix with oil so dirt, sweat, and sunscreen can rinse off easily.
Chemically, lauryl betaine is an amphoteric surfactant so it carries both a positive and negative charge. This helps it create a creamy foam while being less harsh than stronger detergent-type cleansers.
According to CIR, this ingredient is generally considered safe when used in cosmetics. However, like all surfactants, it can be irritating when used in high amounts of in formulas that aren't well balanced.
Learn more about Lauryl BetaineParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSteartrimonium Chloride is a preservative.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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