What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Vp/Va Copolymer
Polyquaternium-55
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentCeteareth-20
CleansingAcrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Polyitaconate
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Pvp, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Vp/Va Copolymer, Polyquaternium-55, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Ceteareth-20, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Zea Mays Starch, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Coconut Alkanes, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Polyitaconate, Sodium Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Coco-Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Olealkonium Chloride
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Vp/Va Copolymer
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningStearamine Oxide
CleansingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyquaternium-11
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Glycerides Polyglyceryl-10 Esters
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Polysorbate 20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olealkonium Chloride, Coconut Alkanes, Vp/Va Copolymer, Behentrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Stearamine Oxide, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Panthenol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Xylitol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyquaternium-11, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides Polyglyceryl-10 Esters, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Polyquaternium-7, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Salicylate
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 AlcoholThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredientās final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCetearyl 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 AlcoholCoconut Alkanes is created from the fatty-acids of coconut oil. It is volatile, meaning it evaporates from the skin.
This ingredient is an emollient and solvent. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft and hydrated. Solvents help distribute and mix other ingredients. This ensures a more even consistency.
Coconut Alkanes may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Coconut AlkanesGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Ā
Itās often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolVP/VA Copolymer is a synthetic polymer made by joining two smaller molecules (vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate) into a larger chain.
It is mainly used as a film-former and fixing agent. When a product dries, it creates a thin and flexible layer on the skin, hair, or nails. This film helps hold hairstyles into place, adds a smooth feel to skin, and traps moisture to reduce dryness.
Irritation is rare at normal concentrations and it doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
Learn more about Vp/Va CopolymerWater. 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
