What's inside
What's inside
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
Dimethyl Ether
SolventAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialVp/Va Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercus Alba Bark Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSymphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAmp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
CleansingBenzophenone-4
UV AbsorberZeolite
AbsorbentAcetyl Triethyl Citrate
MaskingPEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHydrofluorocarbon 152a, Dimethyl Ether, Alcohol Denat., Vp/Va Copolymer, Panthenol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Quercus Alba Bark Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Benzophenone-4, Zeolite, Acetyl Triethyl Citrate, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMagnesium Sulfate
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPvp
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercus Alba Bark Extract
AstringentRosa Canina Fruit Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSymphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialBenzoic Acid
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Alcohol Denat., Magnesium Sulfate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Pvp, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Quercus Alba Bark Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Achillea Millefolium Extract comes from the yarrow plant. Yarrow is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Benzoic Acid is an organic acid that shows up in cosmetics as a preservative. It helps keep a product from spoiling by holding back the growth of yeast, mold, and some bacteria.
This ingredient also functions as a fragrance ingredient that helps mask the unpleasant scent of other ingredients.
The way it works is worth understanding; benzoic acid works when the formula is acidic. It is able to sneak into a microbe's cell and mess up how it functions to stop it from growing in an acidic product.
However, the acid switches to an inactive form and stops working if a product isn't acidic enough (above ~5 pH). This is why you'll often see it in low pH products or teamed up with other preservatives to cover the gap.
Safety wise, it's one of the better studied preservatives out there.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%.
A large international review found this ingredient had no effects on the human body and had low irritation potential.
Just so you know, real world use is usually much lower than the 5% ceiling (usually 1% of less).
The EU caps it at 2.5% in rinse-off products, 1.7% in oral care, and 0.5% in leave-on products.
One thing worth mentioning (it's nothing to worry about): some people get a little stinging or flushing where they apply it. This isn't a true allergy; it's a temporary and harmless reaction. This is the same kind of mild tingle you might notice from sorbic acid.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract comes from the Chamomile flower.
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.
Antioxidant components in chamomile make it an effective ingredient to help slow the signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, or molecules that may damage your skin.
Essential oils from chamomile have been found to improve wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used Chamomile to treat skin redness and dryness. Chamomile has also been used to help treat stomach issues.
Learn more about Chamomilla Recutita Flower ExtractChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinWe don't have a description for Geranium Maculatum Extract yet.
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract comes from the witch hazel plant. The witch hazel plant is native to eastern North America. Many parts of this plant are used in skincare from its twigs to its leaves.
Witch Hazel is an astringent, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.
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 LinaloolLemon balm is a mint-family herb with skin conditioning properties. It contains components such as rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, geraniol, citronellal, and ursolic acid.
Parfum 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 PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Quercus Alba Bark Extract yet.
Rosa Canina Fruit Extract is from Rosehip. Rosehips are a fruit from a wild rose bush native to Eurasia and Africa.
Rosehip contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, fatty acids and linolenic acids that hydrate skin. Having hydrated skin helps reduce the appearance of fine-lines and wrinkles.
Vitamins C and E are potent antioxidants and may help with anti-aging. The fatty acids are emollients that help soften and hydrate your skin.
Another potent vitamin found in rosehip is Vitamin A, or retinol. Retinol encourages collagen production in the skin.
Rosehip extract may help with brightening the skin. Several components, such as beta-carotene, are able to reduce pigmentation caused by sun damage.
Learn more about Rosa Canina Fruit ExtractSage leaf extract is a culinary and medicinal herb with antibacterial, antioxidant, and soothing properties.
This ingredient is made up of 75-90% ursolic acid, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound.
Sorbic Acid is a preservative that stops your product from spoiling by stopping microbes from growing.
As a preservative, it's kind of a specialist: it has a broad spectrum of activity against yeast and molds but is weaker against bacteria. That's why it's often paired with another preservative to cover that gap.
This ingredient is also pretty picky about pH; it performs best at pH 6.5 or below.
At the right pH level, sorbic acid is "active" and can slip through the outer wall of a microbe. Once inside, it turns the cell's interior more acidic to shut down the microbe from the inside.
The EU caps this ingredient at 0.6% while the CIR has concluded it's safe at concentrations up to 1%. It's most often used around 0.05-0.2% in cosmetics.
Though this ingredient is considered low-sensitizing and well-tolerated, a very small number of people may have a contact allergy to it. Be sure to patch test if you have a history of allergies towards preservatives.
Learn more about Sorbic AcidThis ingredient comes from the leaves of the comfrey plant and has skin conditioning properties.
Comfrey produces a wonderful compound that you might have heard of already: allantoin.
Allantoin is well-studied for promoting the skin's natural repair process and helping skin look smoother. Comfrey is also rich in antioxidants like Rosmarinic acid and Caffeic Acid.
Research has shown that these compounds work together to help calm redness, protect against oxidative stress, and support overall skin health.
Learn more about Symphytum Officinale Leaf ExtractWater. 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