What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Echinacea Angustifolia Extract
MoisturisingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingPyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSymphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Buteth-3
SolventSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Tributyl Citrate
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isohexadecane, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Symphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Polysilicone-15, Buteth-3, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Tributyl Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Linalool, CI 61565, CI 16035, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingAmodimethicone
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Triethanolamine
BufferingAlanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Pvp, Amodimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Lactic Acid, Triethanolamine, Alanine, Proline, Glutamic Acid, Trideceth-12, Benzophenone-4, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolLinalool 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 ParfumPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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
