What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Sulfite
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Wheat Amino Acids, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Sulfite, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer
Sorbitol
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Honey
Humectant
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silk Amino Acids
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Pvp, Propanediol, Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer, Sorbitol, Acrylates Copolymer, Honey, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Silk Amino Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Parfum, 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.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilParfum 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
