What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-2 Cocoate
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit/Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Isostearyl Isostearate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Olivate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Citronellol, Coumarin, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingNiacinamide
SmoothingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-4
Dimethiconol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingAmodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGeraniol
PerfumingPotato Starch Modified
Citronellol
PerfumingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialCoumarin
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Niacinamide, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phenoxyethanol, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-6, Polyquaternium-4, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Panthenol, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Carbomer, Geraniol, Potato Starch Modified, Citronellol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Parfum
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.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolCoumarins are a group of substances found naturally in plants. There are over 1300 types of coumarins identified. It has a natural vanilla scent.
Coumarin is an identified EU known allergy, meaning it may cause an allergic reaction when applied to the skin.
In many countries, coumarin is banned as a food additive. However, it can be found in soaps, tobacco products, and some alcohol drinks.
Plants use coumarins as a chemical defense. Some plants that have coumarins include lavender, tonka beans, and yellow clovers.
Learn more about CoumarinHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term '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.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool 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 LinaloolParfum 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 GlycolWater. 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