What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Quaternium-91
C11-13 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Phytantriol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein
Skin ConditioningTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenyl Ethyl Ether
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningStyrax Benzoin Resin Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingCitrulline
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Quaternium-91, C11-13 Isoparaffin, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethiconol, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Sorbic Acid, Benzophenone-4, Panthenol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Phytantriol, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Trisiloxane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Citric Acid, Phospholipids, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Benzoate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Phosphate, Citrulline, Tocopheryl Acetate, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Cleansing
Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
Antimicrobial
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Sarcosinate
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Octyldodecanol, Sodium PCA, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate, Sodium Sarcosinate, Propylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholCitric 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 AcidWe don't have a description for Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol yet.
Parfum 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 a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium 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 SorbateWe don't have a description for Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine yet.
Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
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
