What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeAmodimethicone
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventLaureth-23
CleansingLaureth-4
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingSalicylic Acid
MaskingAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentTriethanolamine
BufferingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialLimonene
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trideceth-6, Parfum, Salicylic Acid, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Triethanolamine, Cetrimonium Chloride, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Polyitaconate
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSqualane
EmollientEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
PerfumingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantWater, Glycerin, Sodium Polyitaconate, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Parfum, Limonene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Linalool, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Agave Tequilana comes from the Blue Agave plant native to Mexico, and is a base ingredient in the alcohol Tequila.
It is an astringent, meaning it draws water out of pores to constrict them temporarily.
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 AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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 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.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water