What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
PEG-2 Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Amodimethicone
Sodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Aminopropyl Dimethicone
PPG-2-Deceth-12
EmulsifyingButylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Steartrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientLinalool
Perfuming
Polysilicone-13
Disodium EDTA
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Isopentyldiol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-2 Laurate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Amodimethicone, Sodium Methyltaurate, Salicylic Acid, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, PPG-2-Deceth-12, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Steartrimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Linalool, Polysilicone-13, Disodium EDTA, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, CI 19140, CI 17200, Royal Jelly Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
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 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
