What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantMaltitol
HumectantStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingAminopropyl Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSuccinic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingSqualane
EmollientDi-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientMaleic Acid
BufferingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingDimethiconol
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Benzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingSilica Silylate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientJojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasivePrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingCamellia Seed Oil
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantAvena Sativa Peptide
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantThreonine
Leucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingTin Oxide
AbrasivePhenylalanine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantValine
MaskingMethionine
Skin ConditioningGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningCystine
MaskingTryptophan
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Maltitol, Stearyl Alcohol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Succinic Acid, Parfum, Squalane, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Maleic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Linalool, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Silica Silylate, Propanediol, CI 77891, Dextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Jojoba Oil/Macadamia Seed Oil Esters, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Silica, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Peptide, Arginine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Threonine, Leucine, Proline, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Glycine, Tin Oxide, Phenylalanine, Alanine, Tyrosine, Lysine, Histidine, Valine, Methionine, Glycolipids, Cystine, Tryptophan
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAmodimethicone
Parfum
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingTrideceth-10
CleansingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Amodimethicone, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Trideceth-10, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, CI 15985, CI 19140, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tocopherol, Glycolipids
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 OilCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycolipids are natural, sustainable biosurfactants. They are both surfactants (cleansing agents) and emollients.
Made from lipids and sugars, in-vitro studies show glycolipids are a gentle alternative to conventional surfactants. They also possess foaming properties to give cleaning products a nice texture.
One manufacturer study found their glycolipid also demonstrated sebum reduction and helped reduced oiliness after four weeks. This means it can also be great for scalp care.
Learn more about GlycolipidsLimonene 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 LimoneneThis ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilParfum 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 the oil from the apricot.
Apricot Kernel Oil is an emollient and helps soften skin. This is due to its fatty acid components. Some of these fatty acids include linoleic and oleic acid.
This ingredient also has antioxidant properties from Vitamins A, C, and E. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Besides being antioxidants, these vitamins provide plenty of skin benefits as well.
Learn more about Prunus Armeniaca Kernel OilSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil is the oil expressed from the seeds of the Marula plant. In South Africa, Marula is called "an elephant's favorite treat".
Marula seed oil is a non-fragrant oil. It is rich in fatty acids, such as oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and more. These fatty acids help hydrate the skin.
Other components of marula seed oil include vitamin E and antioxidants such as flavonoids.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Sclerocarya Birrea Seed OilSorbitol is a sugar alcohol. It is a hydrating and moisturizing agent created from the reduction process of glucose.
Most sorbitol is usually made from potato starch. It is also found in fruits such as apples and pears.
As a humectant, Sorbitol helps draw water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. Sorbitol also helps create a thicker texture in products. You might find sorbitol in your toothpaste and other gels.
It is a non-irritating ingredient that is great for those with dry skin.
Sorbitol is a prebiotic. It helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria on your skin. The bacteria on your skin form a microbiome. This microbiome helps protect your skin from infection and harmful bacteria.
Learn more about SorbitolWater. 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