What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCaulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Cocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingParfum
MaskingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAmodimethicone
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialPEG-7 Propylheptyl Ether
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Sulfate
PEG-180m
Emulsion StabilisingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behentrimonium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-150 Distearate, Gluconolactone, Trehalose, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Chloride, PEG-7 Propylheptyl Ether, Sodium Sulfate, PEG-180m, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCetyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMoringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters
Skin ConditioningRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Decylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Allantoin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Panthenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Coumarin, Isoeugenol, Citral, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is a fragrance. It can be synthetically created or naturally occurring.
The scent of Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is described as "flowery" but can also be "woody".
Naturally occurring Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone may be found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or the yeast used to make wine and bread.
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 Alpha-Isomethyl IononeCetyl Palmitate is a wax-like substance.
It comes from palmitic acid and palmityl alcohol. Cetyl Palmitate may not be safe for Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne.
This ingredient is naturally found in the guava fruit and stony corals.
Learn more about Cetyl PalmitateCoumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl 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 CinnamalLinalool 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