What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Carrageenan
Xylitol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Amyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalyl Acetate
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Geranyl Acetate
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Methyl Benzoate
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Carrageenan, Xylitol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Linalool, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Amyl Salicylate, Linalyl Acetate, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Benzoic Acid, Methyl Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Fructose
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyporus Umbellatus Extract
Skin ProtectingHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Fructose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneLimonene 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.
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate comes from Capric Acid and Polyglycerin-4. It is an emulsifier.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally.
Water. 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
