What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Polyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-37
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Benzoate
MaskingParfum
MaskingCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Steareth-20, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium-47, Polyquaternium-37, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycol Distearate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, CI 19140, CI 16035
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialOctyldodecanol
EmollientMel Extract
MoisturisingRetinol
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
TonicMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPiper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Seed Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeDipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Parfum
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Octyldodecanol, Mel Extract, Retinol, Royal Jelly Extract, Propolis Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dipalmitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, 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.
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%.
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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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