What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glucose
Humectant
Phyllostachys Pubescens Meristem Cell Lysate
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Prunus Domestica Seed Extract
EmollientArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Lupinus Albus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Isomalt
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Dicocodimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Etidronic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Steartrimonium Chloride, Glucose, Phyllostachys Pubescens Meristem Cell Lysate, Argania Spinosa Sprout Cell Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract, Glutamic Acid, Sodium PCA, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Isomalt, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate, Dimethiconol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Dicocodimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Etidronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetyl Esters
Emollient
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientAmodimethicone
Isododecane
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion Stabilising
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-15
UV Filter
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
Masking
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Trideceth-3
EmulsifyingTrideceth-15
EmulsifyingAcetic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Esters, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Amodimethicone, Isododecane, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Cocos Nucifera Water, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Laureth-9, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Arginine, Alanine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Aspartic Acid, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, C11-15 Pareth-7, Polysilicone-15, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Sodium PCA, PCA, Diisostearyl Malate, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, BHT, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Trideceth-3, Trideceth-15, Acetic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, 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.
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholThis 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.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose 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 HydroxyethylcelluloseIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholParfum 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 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
