What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-16
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
CI 16185
Cosmetic ColorantBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, Polyquaternium-16, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Silk, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lactic Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Benzophenone-4, CI 16185, Benzyl Salicylate, Amyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Persea Gratissima Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Trisodium EDTA, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Linalool
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.
Cyclopentasiloxane (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 CyclopentasiloxaneLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
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 LimoneneLinalool 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
