What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetyl Esters
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-15
EmulsifyingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberCitric Acid
Buffering
Acetic Acid
BufferingAdansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Passiflora Incarnata Extract
AstringentRibes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningBromelain
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Santalum Album Extract
CleansingAmber Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract
Perfuming
Oryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Phytic Acid
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicLitchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Esters, Amodimethicone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, C11-15 Pareth-7, Laureth-9, Trideceth-15, Trideceth-3, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT, Trideceth-12, Jojoba Esters, Polysilicone-15, Quaternium-95, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caffeine, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Bromelain, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Niacinamide, Santalum Album Extract, Amber Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Vegetable Amino Acids, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phytic Acid, Oryza Sativa Extract, Citrulline, Gluconolactone, Biotin, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium Phosphate, Calcium Gluconate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Farnesene
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetyl Esters
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
PCA
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Farnesene, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Esters, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Behentrimonium Chloride, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Panthenol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Gluconate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
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%.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCetearyl 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 AlcoholCetyl Esters is an emollient with an interesting backstory: it's a synthetic wax originally designed to be a copy of spermaceti, a waxy material that used to be harvested from whales.
This ingredient delivers the same "velvety" feel without anything animal-derived (usually made from coconut or palm-sourced fatty alcohols/acids).
Chemically, it's a blend of esters from 14-18 fatty acids and alcohols that is a solid at room temperature but melts on contact with skin. It helps soften and smooth the skin while improving the feel and spread of products.
Typical use concentrations range from 1-10% (most commonly 2-5%).
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded it's safe as used and has shown no skin irritation in available studies.
Because it's a blend of fatty acid esters in the chain-length range that Malassezia can feed on, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetyl EstersEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 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
