What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Isohexadecane
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Oleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningLinoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin ConditioningC13-15 Alkane
SolventEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Vanillin
Masking
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Alcohol Denat., Isohexadecane, Isododecane, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Squalane, Tocopherol, Ethyl Macadamiate, Oleyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Linoleamidopropyl Dimethylamine Dimer Dilinoleate, C13-15 Alkane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Water, Malic Acid, BHT, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalyl Acetate, Vanillin
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides
Emollient
Polyquaternium-16
Dioleoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingC13-16 Isoalkane
SolventPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Alcohol Denat., Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Water, Isododecane, C13-15 Alkane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sunflower Seed Oil Glycerides, Polyquaternium-16, Dioleoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Isohexadecane, Triheptanoin, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, C13-16 Isoalkane, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Linalool, Coumarin, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.C13-15 Alkane is a group of alkanes with 13 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
It is a solvent and texture enhancer. Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
We don't have a description for Hydrofluorocarbon 152a yet.
Isododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneParfum 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 ParfumWe don't have a description for PPG-5-Ceteth-20 yet.
We don't have a description for Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate yet.
Water. 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
