What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButane
Isobutane
Polyquaternium-4
Propane
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Vinyl Caprolactam/Vp/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSilicone Quaternium-16
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Trideceth-9
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Undeceth-11
EmollientButyloctanol
HumectantUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Butane, Isobutane, Polyquaternium-4, Propane, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Vinyl Caprolactam/Vp/Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Silicone Quaternium-16, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Trideceth-9, Disodium EDTA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Undeceth-11, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Coumarin, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningIsobutane
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Vp/Va Copolymer
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientPropane
Polyquaternium-11
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPolyquaternium-4
Parfum
Masking
PPG-12-PEG-50 Lanolin
EmulsifyingOlealkonium Chloride
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Isobutane, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Vp/Va Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Propane, Polyquaternium-11, Polysorbate 20, Pvp, Polyquaternium-4, Parfum, PPG-12-PEG-50 Lanolin, Olealkonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineThis ingredient is a low-molecular weight gas using as a propellant in foams, sprays, and mousses.
It is not intended to interact with skin in a meaningful way as it evaporates almost immediately after dispensing and only leaving behind the actual product formula.
If it does somehow make it onto your skin, it is chemically inert and does not penetrate or get absorbed into skin. Safety assessments note that adverse skin reactions to this ingredient are uncommon.
Learn more about IsobutaneParfum 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 ParfumWe don't have a description for Polyquaternium-4 yet.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propane is a gas derived from petroleum and natural gas. In cosmetics, its only used as an aerosol propellant (it pushes your product out of the can when you press the nozzle).
That's why you'll find it in hair sprays, dry shampoos, deodorants, mousses, shaving foams, and sunscreen sprays.
It is volatile, meaning it only remains on skin for less than 10 seconds before evaporating. It doesn't really linger long enough on skin to act as a skincare ingredient in any meaningful way.
Hairspray concentrations are between 6-17%.
The CIR Expert Panel concluded it to be safe as a cosmetic ingredient under present concentration and usage.
Learn more about PropanePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. 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
