What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientSambucus Nigra Seed Oil
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientPrunus Domestica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Polyquaternium-11
Stearalkonium Chloride
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeWater, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sambucus Nigra Seed Oil, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantothenic Acid, Panthenol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polyquaternium-11, Stearalkonium Chloride, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBrassica Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCopper Tripeptide-34
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCetyl Esters
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBrassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate
Emulsion StabilisingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLauryl Pyrrolidone
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantLindera Strychnifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialGlycine
BufferingLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Benzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Brassica Alcohol, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Copper Tripeptide-34, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Caffeine, Biotin, Cetyl Esters, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Lauryl Pyrrolidone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ubiquinone, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Zinc Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
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 most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholBiotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinThis 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.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinThis ingredient is derived from guar gum.
It is a conditioning ingredient, meaning it helps soften skin and hair.
Parfum 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 ParfumStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.
Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholTocopheryl 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water