What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
C13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Copaifera Officinalis Resin
MaskingAstrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopentyldiol, Glyceryl Stearate, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Squalane, Collagen Amino Acids, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Copaifera Officinalis Resin, Astrocaryum Vulgare Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Heptyl Undecylenate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lactate
Buffering
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sorbitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Masking
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Ammonium Lactate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Urea, Linalool, Citronellol, Sodium Chloride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Limonene, Coumarin, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Allantoin, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is a fragrance. It can be synthetically created or naturally occurring.
The scent of Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is described as "flowery" but can also be "woody".
Naturally occurring Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone may be found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or the yeast used to make wine and bread.
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 Alpha-Isomethyl IononeCetearyl 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 AlcoholGlycerin (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 StearateParfum 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 ParfumPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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
