What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Propylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantSteareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingIsohexadecane
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningRaspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Squalane, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, Isohexadecane, Phytosphingosine, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 80, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tromethamine, Asiaticoside, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Raspberry Seed Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sorbitan Oleate, Disodium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientSorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSodium Benzoate
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingSorbic Acid
PreservativeHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingAcetyl Tetrapeptide-15
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Palmitate, Dimethicone, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Cyclohexasiloxane, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Coco-Glucoside, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sorbic Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Limonene, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15, Biotin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCetearyl Isononanoate can be bad for oily skin.
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.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 StearateThis ingredient is more commonly known as IPMP or Isopropyl Methylphenol. It is a preservative and has antimicrobial properties.
According to the EPA, this ingredient is allowed for use in cleansers, creams, powders, bath products, toothpaste, perfume, and more.
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 ParfumWater. 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