What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopentyldiol
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeQuaternium-80
Glycerin
HumectantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientTrehalose
HumectantXylitol
HumectantCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingEthyl Linoleate
EmollientEthyl Oleate
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-37
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Parfum
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopentyldiol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-80, Glycerin, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Trehalose, Xylitol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Oleate, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyquaternium-37, Sodium Phosphate, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingPg-Amodimethicone
Parfum
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingLaureth-23
CleansingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningXylose
HumectantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantSerine
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingWater, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Trideceth-9, Pg-Amodimethicone, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Xylose, Hexyl Cinnamal, Trideceth-12, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Salicylic Acid, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin
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%.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeParfum 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