What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCholesteryl Hydroxystearate
EmollientAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
EmollientAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCordyceps Sinensis Extract
AntioxidantGynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPseudostellaria Heterophylla Extract
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMenthol
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylparaben
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glycerin, Squalane, Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf Extract, Pseudostellaria Heterophylla Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningRhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Disodium Succinate
MaskingEctoin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingSuccinic Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Adenosine, Arginine, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Leaf Extract, Hydroxyproline, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Succinate, Ectoin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phytosterols, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Phytosteryl Oleate, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Succinic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl 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 AlcoholDimethicone 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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. This oil is non-fragrant and is an emollient. As an emollient, meadowfoam seed oil helps soften and hydrate the skin.
Meadowfoam seed oil is stable and has a long shelf life due to its chemical structure. It has the highest concentration of stable fatty-acids among plant oils, preventing it from degrading once exposed to oxygen.
Due to the fatty acid content, this ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.
Meadowfoam is native to California and Oregon.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilParfum 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 ParfumSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideThis ingredient is a sulfate-free surfactant. It is made by combining a fatty acid with taurine.
According to a manufacturer, the taurine component of this ingredient makes it suitable for sensitive skin. As a surfactant, it helps cleanse without stripping and helps produce a creamy foam.
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum