What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Amodimethicone
PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-37
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientAcetamide Mea
HumectantParfum
Masking
Lactamide Mea
HumectantDimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Xylose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningIsoeugenol
Perfuming
Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMelanin
Skin ProtectingWater, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Amodimethicone, PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Polyquaternium-37, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Acetamide Mea, Parfum, Lactamide Mea, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Trideceth-6, Behentrimonium Chloride, Xylose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Benzophenone-4, Cetrimonium Chloride, Tocopherol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Isoeugenol, Foeniculum Vulgare Seed Extract, Melanin
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Polyquaternium-11
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Simethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Agave Americana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
Emulsifying
CI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isopropyl Myristate, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Polyquaternium-11, Phenyl Trimethicone, Simethicone, Parfum, Agave Americana Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, CI 60725
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 ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
