What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingShea Butter Cetyl Esters
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAcetyl Cedrene
Amyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Shea Butter Cetyl Esters, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Acetyl Cedrene, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Linalyl Acetate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexamethylindanopyran, Geranyl Acetate, Amyl Salicylate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPolyquaternium-37
Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBixa Orellana Seed Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantArginine
MaskingPullulan
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientC11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingC12-16 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeGlutamic Acid
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-16
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberPropanediol
SolventLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrimethylsiloxyamodimethicone
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSh-Polypeptide-13
Skin ProtectingSh-Hexapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-18
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-14
Skin ProtectingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLactic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingPinene
MaskingRose Ketones
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Pisum Sativum Seed Extract, Glycerin, Trehalose, Arginine, Pullulan, Panthenol, Dimethiconol, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-16 Alketh-9, Trideceth-12, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glutamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Cetrimonium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyquaternium-16, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Quaternium-95, Propanediol, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sh-Polypeptide-13, Sh-Hexapeptide-4, Sh-Polypeptide-18, Sh-Polypeptide-14, Benzyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Hexamethylindanopyran, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene, Rose Ketones, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholBenzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateCetearyl 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.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolThis ingredient is also known as Galaxolide. It is a synthetic fragrance used to add a "sweet musky floral" odor.
The EU Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety deems this ingredient to be an allergen and irritant.
Hexyl 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 CinnamalLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool 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 LinaloolLinalyl Acetate is the acetate ester of linalool and can be naturally found in many flowers and spice plants.
This ingredient is often used to add a scent or mask an unpleasant one in products.
Linalyl acetate is mildly toxic to humans and toxic to fish.
Learn more about Linalyl AcetatePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine yet.
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