What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Agave Rigida Extract
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-37
Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Agave Rigida Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyquaternium-37, Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cicer Arietinum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyquaternium-37
Parfum
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-10
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cicer Arietinum Seed Extract, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-37, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Benzyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citric Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
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 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.
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 GlycerinHexyl 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 CinnamalHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolParfum 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.
We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-37 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
