What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Humectant
Polyquaternium-28
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-37
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDimethiconol
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Polyquaternium-28, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Parfum, Polyquaternium-37, Stearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dimethiconol, Steareth-21, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Citric Acid, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Porphyra Yezoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Polyquaternium-37
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-37, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Butylene Glycol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Polyquaternium-37 yet.
We don't have a description for PPG-1 Trideceth-6 yet.
This ingredient is an emollient designed to leave a non-greasy feel. It is also a skin conditioning agent and viscosity modifier.
Skin irritation studies for this ingredient (up to 80%) showed mimimal to no irritation.
One thing worth knowing: this ingredient may enhance the skin penetration of other ingredients.
Overall, this ingredient is a well-tolerated and lightweight emollient.
Learn more about Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/DicaprateStearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Fatty alcohols are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent (ethanol) alcohols.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Stearyl AlcoholWater. 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
