What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientDipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate
Cetyl Esters
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Flower Extract
AstringentBisabolol
AntioxidantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBHT
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Dipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Esters, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 15985, CI 19140, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Mica, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Trideceth-6, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Flower Extract, Amodimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caramel, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Flower Extract, Bisabolol, Cetrimonium Chloride, BHT, Citric Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Parfum
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 water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 15985 is a dye made from petroleum. It is synthetically created and approved by the FDA for use in foods and cosmetics.
The color of this dye is orange/yellow.
This ingredient can be found in makeup, sun care, and skincare.
Learn more about CI 15985CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140This ingredient is also known as coconut oil. It is a plant-derived ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
The fatty acid profile of coconut oil is mostly lauric acid (~54%), followed by capric, caprylic, palmitic, and myristic acids. This profile allows it to penetrate easily into skin, moisturize, and improve dry skin.
A double-blind study confirmed that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective as mineral oil for treating very dry skin. Another study found it outperformed mineral oil for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children.
Another study from 2018 found that virgin coconut oil can soothe inflammation and boost key skin barrier proteins. Just know this evidence is still only from lab settings and not human trials.
It has also been shown to reduce Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that commonly overgrows in people with eczema.
Clinical testing shows very minimal skin irritation and no evidence of sensitization or phototoxicity.
Coconut oil gets flagged as a "fragrance" because it has a natural mild scent (not because it's a synthetic perfume). The European Cosmetic ingredient database also lists "perfuming" as a function of this ingredient.
Just so you know, the term "fragrance" is completely unregulated. Some brands still use botanical extracts or essential oils in their "fragrance-free" formulas, but regulatory databases technically classify these under "fragrance".
Coconut oil has a tiny and useless bit of natural SPF. Early lab studies clocked it around SPF 7-8 but a more recent study found the real number closer to SPF 1.2. It also offers no meaningful UVA protection (SPF only overs UVB rays).
The comedogenic rating of 4/5 means it has a high potential to clog pores; but it's worth noting that comedogenicity is highly individual and ratings cannot predict how an overall formula will behave on skin.
Since lauric acid is the dominant fatty acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between 11-24, and lauric acid falls within these lengths (C12).
Learn more about Cocos Nucifera 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 ParfumWater. 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