What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Sulfite
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Sulfite, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Acetylated Lanolin
Emollient
Vp/Va Copolymer
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Canola Oil
Emollient
PEG-75 Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Keratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingSodium Borate
BufferingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Water, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Acetylated Lanolin, Vp/Va Copolymer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Canola Oil, PEG-75 Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Potassium Sorbate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Panthenol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Keratin Amino Acids, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Borate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Carbomer, Limonene, Glycine Soja Oil, Zea Mays Oil, Silica
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ceteareth-20 is an emulsifier and surfactant made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
This gives it both oil and water-loving properties that makes it an effect emulsifier; it's really great at pulling oil droplets into water to create a stable, creamy, and easy-to-spread base.
Typical use ranges from 0.5-30%. Most leave-on products are in the 1-10% zone.
The 20 ethylene oxide units is well above the PEG-10 threshold and therefore not a food source for Malassezia (it's fungal acne safe).
This ingredient has a comedogenic rating of 2 and an irritancy rating of 3. These numbers come from testing the raw ingredient on rabbit ears and doesn't reflect how it will behave in a finished product.
In practice, this ingredient is a well-tolerated ingredient. The ratings reflect cautious lab conditions and not real-world use. Just be sure to patch test any formulas you feel unsure about.
Learn more about Ceteareth-20Glycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene 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 LimoneneParfum 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 ParfumPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateThis ingredient is also known as sweet almond oil. It is a lightweight, cold-pressed oil from the ripe seeds of the sweet almond tree.
Sweet almond oil is rich in skin-nourishing fatty acids such as oleic acid (55-86%) and linolenic acid (7-35%).
As an emollient, it softens and hydrates skin by forming a thin barrier that locks in moisture.
Clinical studies have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing. The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the available safety data and concluded it is safe for topical use.
Because of the oleic acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis OilTheobroma Cacao Seed Butter comes from the Theobroma cacoa, or Cacao tree. Cacao trees are native to tropical landscapes.
Like other plant butters, Cacao seed butter is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture in, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.
Cacao seed butter contains antioxidants known as polyphenols. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules by stabilizing them. Unstable free-radicals may cause damage to your skin cells. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging.
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter can be bad for acne prone skin.
Learn more about Theobroma Cacao Seed ButterWater. 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
