What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantBehenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingLinum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
PerfumingLactic Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Propanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Lactic Acid, Parfum, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Linalool, Potassium Sorbate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientParfum
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLitchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Isopentyldiol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAcrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoceth-7
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentCitric Acid
BufferingCyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhytic Acid
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Parfum, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Isopentyldiol, Propanediol, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylates Copolymer, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Dipropylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Diisostearyl Malate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coceth-7, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Betaine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Squalane, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Citric Acid, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Phytic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Limonene, Coumarin, Geraniol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citral is the molecule responsible for the fresh lemon scent in lemon, lime, and lemongrass. It is a fragrance ingredient that can be created from plant essential oils or synthetically.
Though Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1% so there's likely no skin benefit.
You should know this ingredient is a known EU fragrance allergen.
Animal studies classifies this ingredient as a weak-to-moderate skin sensitizer and clinical patch testing on eczema patients confirmed it to be both a contact allergen and irritant.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
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 CitralCitric 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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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 ParfumPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
Itâs often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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