What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTapioca Starch
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Pentaerythrityl Distearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tapioca Starch, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Alcohol, Carbomer, Benzoic Acid, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Juniperus Communis Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cocoglycerides
Emollient
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Pantolactone
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Cocoglycerides, Decyl Oleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panthenol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Pantolactone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Ascorbic Acid, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
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.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinLinalool 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
