What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingAmodimethicone
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingSalicylic Acid
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingGlycol Distearate
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
CleansingPEG-100 Stearate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSteareth-6
EmulsifyingTrideceth-3
EmulsifyingPotassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Sarcosinate
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPEG-45m
HumectantBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantAcetic Acid
BufferingFumaric Acid
BufferingHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethicone, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Amodimethicone, Carbomer, Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-10, Salicylic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Glycol Distearate, Citric Acid, Mica, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-6, Trideceth-3, Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate, CI 77891, Sodium Sarcosinate, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Coumarin, Linalool, PEG-45m, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Caramel, Acetic Acid, Fumaric Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Glucose, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide
Disiloxane
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCoumarin
PerfumingCarnosine
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDisiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Water, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Citral, Phenoxyethanol, Coumarin, Carnosine, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, CI 42090, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Potassium Sorbate
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 CinnamalLinalool 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.
Potassium 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 SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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