What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Buteth-3
SolventAmyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberHydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Denatonium Benzoate
Masking
Tributyl Citrate
SolventWater, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylparaben, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Linalool, Buteth-3, Amyl Cinnamal, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Hydroxycitronellal, Denatonium Benzoate, Tributyl Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-35 Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Inositol
Humectant
Calcium Pantothenate
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
PEG-3 Dioleate
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Allantoin, Alcohol Denat., PEG-35 Castor Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Inositol, Calcium Pantothenate, Linoleic Acid, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Coumarin, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, PEG-3 Dioleate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Linalool 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 ParfumPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
