What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Amodimethicone
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientSodium PCA
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingTetrasodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Isododecane, Sodium PCA, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Emollient
Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl
Skin ConditioningPhytantriol
HumectantFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-3 Betainate Acetate, Jojoba Esters, Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglycerin-3, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Hcl, Phytantriol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene
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 and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
Cetearyl 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum. It is a skin conditioning agent that creates a thin, breathable film to reduce water loss during cleansing.
This leaves the skin feeling soft rather than stripped and also contributes to a creamier lather.
Due to the large molecule size, this ingredient is unlikely to penetrate skin.
Learn more about Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium ChlorideHexyl 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 CinnamalHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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
