What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningSclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Isododecane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Parfum, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Hydroxycitronellal, Glycolipids, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientHippophae Rhamnoides Oil
EmollientHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantSilk Amino Acids
HumectantVegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingSerine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAspartic Acid
MaskingLeucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingLysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Valine
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Benzoate
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeHistidine
HumectantCysteine
AntioxidantMethionine
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Parfum, Alcohol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Water, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Silk Amino Acids, Vegetable Amino Acids, Pentylene Glycol, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Proline, Threonine, Valine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Isoleucine, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Ceramide NP, Phospholipids, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is a fragrance. It can be synthetically created or naturally occurring.
The scent of Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is described as "flowery" but can also be "woody".
Naturally occurring Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone may be found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or the yeast used to make wine and bread.
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 Alpha-Isomethyl IononeYou 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 OilC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCamellia Japonica Seed Oil comes from the Japanese Camellia plant. This plant is native to East Asia and known as "Tsubaki" in Japanese.
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil is rich in oleic acid. This makes it a great emollient. Emollients help soften and soothe the skin by forming a barrier. This barrier traps moisture within, keeping your skin hydated.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethiconol 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.
Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalThis 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 Parfum