What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningTalc
Abrasive
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Lecithin
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Phytic Acid
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycine
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Magnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Sodium Sulfate
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Leucine
Skin ConditioningCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Talc, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Inulin, Panthenol, Parfum, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Phytic Acid, CI 77891, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine, Citric Acid, Magnesium Aspartate, Alanine, Sodium Sulfate, Lysine Hcl, Leucine, CI 47005, CI 61570
Sodium Palmate
CleansingSodium Palm Kernelate
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Cleansing
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Etidronic Acid
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Palm Kernel Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Pentasodium Pentetate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTetrasodium Etidronate
Emulsion StabilisingIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Palmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidParfum 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 ParfumWater. 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
