What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCetyl Esters
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarvone
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingBeta-Caryophyllene
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingLavandula Oil/Extract
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetyl Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tartaric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Linalool, Tocopherol, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Carvone, Geraniol, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Beta-Caryophyllene, Geranyl Acetate, Lavandula Oil/Extract, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citric Acid, CI 17200, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeParfum
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantButylene Glycol Propionate
SolventChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
PerfumingLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol Propionate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Benzophenone-4, Caramel, Linalool, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract comes from sunflower seeds.
Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E. Studies show sunflowers contain antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
The fatty acids found in sunflower seeds include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.
These fatty acids hydrate your skin. Emollients create a film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed ExtractLinalool 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 ParfumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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