What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Hydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantOlus Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientStearalkonium Chloride
PreservativeStearyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Isopropyl Alcohol
SolventParfum
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Olus Oil, Panthenol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Stearalkonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPlukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientKaempferia Galanga Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydroxypropylammonium Gluconate
HumectantHydroxypropylgluconamide
HumectantIsostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate
Tocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningDistearyldimonium Chloride
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingFarnesol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingTartaric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Cetrimonium Chloride, Parfum, Farnesol, Eugenol, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Limonene, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AlcoholCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholThis ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
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 CitralCitronellol 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 CitronellolEugenol is naturally found in cloves, basil, and bay leaves. It is an aromatic oil used to add fragrance to a product. The scent of eugenol is described as "clove-like". Eugenol is a known EU allergen, meaning it causes contact allergies.
Studies show eugenol possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Besides cosmetics, eugenol is also added as a flavor in teas and cakes.
Learn more about EugenolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate is a modified starch used to help thicken a product.
It is also used in foods.
We don't have a description for Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate yet.
We don't have a description for Hydroxypropylgluconamide yet.
Limonene 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water