What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly 16.01%
AstringentDimethicone
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventDiheptyl Succinate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Parfum
Masking
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly 16.01%, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, C15-19 Alkane, Diheptyl Succinate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Water, Silica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Parfum, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limonene, Citronellol, Coumarin, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cellulose Gum, Tocopherol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Eugenol, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Coumarins 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 CoumarinLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as 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 ParfumWater. 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
