What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
EmulsifyingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingQuaternium-91
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Polyquaternium-37
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Etidronic Acid
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Phytantriol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Quaternium-91, Sodium Benzoate, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-37, Benzyl Benzoate, Etidronic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Phytantriol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Arginine
Masking
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polysilicone-29
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLysolecithin
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Coconut Alkanes, Amodimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Cetrimonium Chloride, Mentha Piperita Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Musa Sapientum Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polysilicone-29, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Lysolecithin, Trideceth-12, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate is an ammonium salt. It is mainly used to prevent static in haircare products as a surfactant.
Surfactants have differing ends: one side is hydrophilic while the other end is hydrophobic.
Surfactants also help your cleansers remove pollutants more easily from the skin.
Learn more about Behentrimonium MethosulfateCetearyl 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.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium 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 BenzoateWe don't have a description for Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine 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
