What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAmodimethicone
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientChenopodium Album Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningGlycosphingolipids
EmollientArginine
MaskingHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantKeratin
Skin ConditioningGamma-Docosalactone
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientRosa Alba Flower Water
MaskingHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialCholesterol
EmollientQuaternium-33
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingBentonite
AbsorbentSea Silt
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientDistearyldimonium Chloride
Diethyl Sebacate
EmollientIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Chenopodium Album Flower Extract, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Glycosphingolipids, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Keratin, Gamma-Docosalactone, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rosa Alba Flower Water, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Cholesterol, Quaternium-33, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lysolecithin, Bentonite, Sea Silt, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Diethyl Sebacate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientKeratin Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
PerfumingMeadowfoam Delta-Lactone
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantLauroyl Glutamic Acid
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventAmodimethicone
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPalmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
Polyquaternium-67
Propylene Glycol
HumectantDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Keratin Amino Acids, Levulinic Acid, Meadowfoam Delta-Lactone, Diisostearyl Malate, Tocopherol, Lauroyl Glutamic Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-67, Propylene Glycol, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, 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.
This water-soluble silicone is used for its hydrating and softening properties. It is used to add a silky feel to skincare products and has great benefits for haircare.
In haircare, this ingredient:
- Adds shine
- Protects color
- Offers thermal protection
- Boosts hair strength
- Does not build up as easily
This ingredient is a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
Dimethicone 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 GlycerinIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
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 Isopropyl AlcoholParfum 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.
Propylene 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 GlycolStearyl 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