What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantParfum
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingSodium Chloride
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingGlucose
HumectantGeraniol
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
PerfumingBenzoic Acid
MaskingVanillin
MaskingMethyl Benzoate
PerfumingWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Lactobacillus Ferment, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Linalool, Sodium Chloride, Limonene, Amyl Salicylate, Linalyl Acetate, Glucose, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Benzoic Acid, Vanillin, Methyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPolyimide-1
Polyquaternium-10
Glycerin
HumectantPolyquaternium-47
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-22
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Salicylate
PreservativePotassium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingRose Ketone-4
PerfumingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingVanillin
MaskingWater, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyimide-1, Polyquaternium-10, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-47, Polysorbate 60, Polyquaternium-22, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Isohexadecane, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Salicylate, Potassium Hydroxide, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Geranyl Acetate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Rose Ketone-4, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Vanillin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Geranyl Acetate is a fragrance. It can cause irritation.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene 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 LimoneneParfum 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 ParfumPropylene 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 GlycolSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateVanillin is the main compound of the vanilla bean. It is naturally occuring but can also be artificially created.
This ingredient exhibits antioxidant properties but is also a known skin-irritant.
Vanillism is the term of contact-dermatitis associated with the vanilla plant. The sap of the vanilla plant triggers skin irritation, swelling, and redness.
Learn more about VanillinWater. 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