What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Amodimethicone
Methyl Dihydroabietate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Stearalkonium Chloride
Preservative
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propoxytetramethyl Piperidinyl Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Amodimethicone, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetrimonium Chloride, C11-15 Pareth-7, Trideceth-12, Trideceth-6, Citric Acid, Stearalkonium Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Quaternium-80
Glycerin
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientTrehalose
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingEthyl Linoleate
Emollient
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-37
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopentyldiol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-80, Glycerin, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Trehalose, Xylitol, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ethyl Linoleate, Ethyl Oleate, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyquaternium-37, Sodium Phosphate, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
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 AcidCyclopentasiloxane, 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 CyclopentasiloxaneParfum 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.
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
