What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingCetyl Esters
EmollientHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientAmodimethicone
Isododecane
EmollientJojoba Esters
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientCocos Nucifera Water
MaskingPhyllostachys Bambusoides Juice
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-9
EmulsifyingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAlanine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingHistidine
HumectantIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Aspartic Acid
MaskingLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingPolysilicone-15
UV FilterHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPCA
HumectantDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialSodium Lactate
BufferingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingTrideceth-15
EmulsifyingAcetic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetyl Esters, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Amodimethicone, Isododecane, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Panthenol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Cocos Nucifera Water, Phyllostachys Bambusoides Juice, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Laureth-9, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Arginine, Alanine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Serine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Aspartic Acid, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, C11-15 Pareth-7, Polysilicone-15, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Cystine Bis-Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Sodium PCA, PCA, Diisostearyl Malate, Polysorbate 60, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, BHT, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Trideceth-3, Trideceth-15, Acetic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentQuaternium-87
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientCI 60730
Cosmetic ColorantCI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantLactic Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSteareth-6
EmulsifyingPEG-150/Decyl Alcohol/Smdi Copolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeTrideceth-10
CleansingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantAmodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventParfum
MaskingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distarch Phosphate, Quaternium-87, Dimethicone, CI 60730, CI 60725, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-6, PEG-150/Decyl Alcohol/Smdi Copolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-10, Trideceth-3, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Propylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, 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.
This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
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.
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 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 GlycerinIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Trideceth-3 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