What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Castor Oil
EmulsifyingStearalkonium Chloride
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialWater, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-40 Castor Oil, Stearalkonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningDistearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingKeratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantMenthyl Lactate
MaskingCeteareth-20
CleansingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantAlcohol
AntimicrobialMyroxylon Pereirae Oil
MaskingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningAniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil
AstringentPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingRosa Damascena Flower Oil
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingJasminum Officinale Oil
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBenzyl Cinnamate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Panthenol, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Urtica Dioica Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Menthyl Lactate, Ceteareth-20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGeraniol 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 GeraniolLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilWater. 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