What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-30
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Magnesium Nitrate
Linalool
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicSafflower Glucoside
Geraniol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Magnesium Chloride
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Alcohol Denat., Polyquaternium-30, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Carbomer, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Magnesium Nitrate, Linalool, Salicylic Acid, Amyl Cinnamal, Zinc PCA, Biotin, Safflower Glucoside, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Tocopherol, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Paradisi Juice
Perfuming
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Histidine
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ecklonia Radiata Extract
Skin ConditioningStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingGlutamic Acid
Humectant
PEG-2m
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Paradisi Juice, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Menthol, Histidine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ecklonia Radiata Extract, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Glutamic Acid, PEG-2m, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidMCI is a preservative and known skin-irritant. It has anti-bacteria anti-fungal properties.
Studies spanning several decades have shown this ingredient to cause skin irritation and allergies.
MCI is commonly combined with methylisothiazolinone (MI). Other names for this mixture include Kathon CG and Euxyl K 100.
The use of this ingredient varies around the world:
Learn more about MethylchloroisothiazolinoneMI is a preservative and known skin irritant. In the past, MI was used for its ability to prevent bacteria, yeast, and fungi growth in low doses.
Nowadays, you'll most likely see MI combined with Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI). Trade names for this combination include Kathon CG or Euxyl K 100.
Since then, numerous studies have shown this ingredient to cause contact dermatitis, or skin irritation.
The use of this ingredient varies around the world:
Learn more about MethylisothiazolinoneParfum 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
