What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate
EmulsifyingXylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingPolyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer
Silicone Quaternium-16
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Quaternium-91
Cetrimonium Methosulfate
AntimicrobialPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butyloctanol
HumectantAcetic Acid
BufferingUndeceth-5
EmulsifyingUndeceth-11
EmollientBenzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Methyl Palmitate
Emollient
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Ceramide Ng, Anhydroxylitol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Silicone Quaternium-16, Panthenol, Parfum, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butyloctanol, Acetic Acid, Undeceth-5, Undeceth-11, Benzalkonium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Methyl Palmitate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Esters, Amodimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-6, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Coumarin, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Citral, Geraniol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You may know this ingredient as argan oil. It has emollient and skin conditioning properties that help soften skin and reinforce the lipid barrier.
The fatty acid profile of argan oil is roughly 45-55% oleic acid, 28-36% linoleic acid, 10-15% palmitic acid, and 5-7% stearic acid. It also contains vitamin E, sterols, squalene, and polyphenols like ferulic acid.
Two clinical studies in postmenopausal women found that applying argan oil for 60 days significantly improved skin elasticity and moisturization (reduced transepidermal water loss and increased epidermal water content).
Since it is high in oleic and linoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Both of these fall in the C11-C24 range that Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Argania Spinosa Kernel OilBenzyl 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 AlcoholCetearyl 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidParfum 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.
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 Water
