What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine
AntimicrobialAmodimethicone
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Polyquaternium-10
Quaternium-33
Cetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-18
Gamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantSteardimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
Skin ConditioningDihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein
Skin ConditioningIsostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientGlycine
BufferingTheanine
EmollientPropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientCocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantRosa Canina Fruit Oil
EmollientCamellia Seed Oil
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeLactic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, PPG-1/PEG-1 Stearamine, Amodimethicone, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Polyquaternium-10, Quaternium-33, Cetearamidoethyl Diethonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Quaternium-18, Gamma-Docosalactone, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Dihydroxymethylsilylpropoxy Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Casein, Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Silk, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Glycine, Theanine, Propanediol, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phytosterols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isostearic Acid, Behentrimonium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSilica Silylate
EmollientGlycine Soja Sterols
EmollientQuaternium-18
Behentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePropanediol
SolventSteartrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Myristyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sorbitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Gamma-Docosalactone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Beeswax, Silica Silylate, Glycine Soja Sterols, Quaternium-18, Behentrimonium Chloride, Propanediol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Alcohol Denat., Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
Cyclopentasiloxane, 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 CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 DimethiconeWe don't have a description for Gamma-Docosalactone yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis ingredient is a fatty acid derived quaternary ammonium compound. It has surfactant, emulsifier, antistatic agent, and conditioning properties.
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