What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-150 Distearate, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Panthenol, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Farnesol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Isoeugenol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Lecithin
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract
Astringent
Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Benzyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Gluconate, Lauroyl Lysine, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Maltodextrin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Tocopherol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Linalool, Farnesol, Limonene
Reviews
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 an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl 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 AcidFarnesol is a compound extracted from essential oils such as lemongrass, rose, and more. It is used as a fragrance in products to help boost floral scents.
Farnesol is a known EU allergen and causes contact dermatitis.
This ingredient is hydrophobic, meaning it is not soluble in water.
Learn more about FarnesolLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium Dehydroacetate is a synthetic preservative and sodium salt form of dehydroacetic acid. It stops bacteria, mold, and yeast from growing in your products at low concentrations.
Clinical testing found it to be non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photosensitizing. It's also not significantly absorbed through skin.
There are a very small number of reported cases of contact dermatitis in cases linked to wound-care creams used over compromised skin (rather than skincare).
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-risk preservative just doing its job.
Typical concentrations run up to 0.6%, which is also the maximum amount permitted under both EU CosIng regulations and US FDA guidelines.
Learn more about Sodium DehydroacetateWater. 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
