What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientLauryl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventLecithin
EmollientBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Lauryl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Myristyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantChondrus Crispus
MaskingHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Amodimethicone
Polysilicone-15
UV FilterSilicone Quaternium-22
Cetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPPG-3 Myristyl Ether
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Lecithin
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDiazolidinyl Urea
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Chondrus Crispus, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Amodimethicone, Polysilicone-15, Silicone Quaternium-22, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Alcohol, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Trideceth-12, Disodium EDTA, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Cinnamyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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%.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneIsopropyl 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 AlcoholLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinLimonene 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 LimonenePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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.
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water