What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearamine Oxide
CleansingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Trideceth-15
EmulsifyingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
BHT
Antioxidant
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-15
UV Filter
Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter
Emollient
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberAcetic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Oryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Phytic Acid
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Parfum, Cetyl Esters, Isododecane, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearamine Oxide, Isopropyl Alcohol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Tetrasodium EDTA, C11-15 Pareth-7, Caprylyl Glycol, Laureth-9, Jojoba Esters, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-15, Trideceth-3, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glycerin, BHT, Trideceth-12, Polysilicone-15, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Quaternium-95, Acetic Acid, Citric Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Alcohol, Octocrylene, Disodium Phosphate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Tocopherol, Sodium Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Amber Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Phytic Acid, Oryza Sativa Extract, Citrulline, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Daucus Carota Sativa Extract
Perfuming
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Parfum
Masking
Amyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 15510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Parfum, Amyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 15510, CI 19140
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 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 AcidHexyl 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 CinnamalIsododecane 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 IsododecaneParfum 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.
Tetrasodium 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
