What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract
Astringent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTetrasodium EDTA
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Urea
Buffering
Glucosamine Hcl
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzophenone-4, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limonene, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Urea, Glucosamine Hcl, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Coffea Canephora Seed Extract
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lotus Maritimus Flower/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Coffea Canephora Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lotus Maritimus Flower/Leaf Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sorbic Acid, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Caramel, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol, Coumarin, Limonene
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHexyl 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 CinnamalIsopropyl Myristate is an emollient, thickening agent, and texture enhancer. It is created from isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid.
It is used to help other ingredients be better absorbed. It is also an emollient and may help soften and hydrate the skin.
The comedogenic rating of this ingredient depends on the concentration. Lower amounts results in a lower rating.
Isopropyl Myristate may not be fungal acne safe. It can potentially worsen acne prone skin.
Learn more about Isopropyl MyristateLimonene 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 LinaloolParfum 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 āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā 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 ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
