What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlcohol
AntimicrobialLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCeteth-150
CleansingIsostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Extract
EmollientCarboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin
Polyquaternium-65
Emulsion StabilisingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Betaine
CleansingQuaternium-80
Laureth-2
CleansingPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAminopropyl Dimethicone
Aminoethylaminopropyl Dimethicone
Dimethiconol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitronellol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Alcohol, Laureth-9, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Steartrimonium Chloride, Ceteth-150, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Extract, Carboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin, Polyquaternium-65, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Isostearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lauryl Betaine, Quaternium-80, Laureth-2, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Aminoethylaminopropyl Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
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.
Baobab seed oil is an emollient. It is rich in fatty acids and vitamins A, E, and D.
The fatty acid content of this oil is roughly 30-40% oleic acid, 24-34% linoleic acid, and 18-30% palmitic acid. This gives it skin hydrating and nourishing properties.
Due to this fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Fun fact: Our skin uses fatty acids, and especially linoleic acid, for creating ceramides.
Learn more about Adansonia Digitata Seed OilAminopropyl Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilButylene 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 GlycolC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is made up of Benzoic Acid and long chain alcohols. It has a low molecular weight.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient and texture enhancer. Due to its solubility, it is often used in sunscreens to help evenly distribute active ingredients.
As an emollient, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate helps soften and hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on your skin that traps moisture within.
This ingredient has been reported to cause eye irritation.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateWe don't have a description for Carboxymethyl Alanyl Disulfide Keratin yet.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerDimethiconol 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.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseLaureth-2 is a synthetic surfactant that has cleansing and emulsifying properties. It is commonly used to blend oil and water, help improve cleansing, and add foam.
Like other surfactants, laureth-2 works by reducing surface tension to help dirt, sebum, and other impurities be washed away easily.
This ingredient has low risk of irritation when properly formulated. However, some individuals with sensitive skin may still experience mild irritation.
Learn more about Laureth-2This ingredient comes from lauryl alcohol. It is an emulsifying surfactant and helps mix sold and liquid components.
Other names for this ingredient include Macrogol lauryl ether and Polidocanol.
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 ParfumPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone is a silicone-based ingredient. It helps products feel smoother, lighter, and easier to spread without adding a greasy feel.
This ingredient also helps keep formulas stable by allowing oil and silicone-based ingredients to blend more evenly.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-65 yet.
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 GlycolWe don't have a description for Quaternium-80 yet.
Steartrimonium Chloride is a preservative.
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum is from the seeds of Tamarindus indica. It is more commonly known as tamarind.
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum is used as a texture enhancer, emulsifier, and skin conditioner.
When added to products, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum helps thicken and create a gel-like texture.
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum is a humectant. It helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This keeps your skin hydrated.
Emulsion stabilizing ingredients help stabilize a product. They work by stabilizing two non-mixable ingredients. An example would be oil and water.
Learn more about Tamarindus Indica Seed GumWater. 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