What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPetrolatum
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingCera Alba
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientOleth-5
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPolyquaternium-68
Vp/Va Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingMethylparaben
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Petrolatum, Ceteareth-20, Cera Microcristallina, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Oleth-5, Dimethicone, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-68, Vp/Va Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Eugenol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, BHT, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientVp/Va Copolymer
Stearyl Alcohol
EmollientC20-40 Alkyl Stearate
Skin ConditioningPPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingTribehenin
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
EmulsifyingPotato Starch Modified
Parfum
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingPEG-90m
Emulsion StabilisingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingFumaric Acid
BufferingCoumarin
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingBHT
AntioxidantWater, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Vp/Va Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, C20-40 Alkyl Stearate, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Tribehenin, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Potato Starch Modified, Parfum, Sorbic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, PEG-90m, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Fumaric Acid, Coumarin, Geraniol, BHT
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTCitronellol 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 CitronellolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolLimonene 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 LinaloolMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenParfum 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 ParfumPetrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum may not be safe for fungal-acne. Studies show mineral oil / petroleum leads to the growth of M. Furfur, a type of yeast.
Learn more about PetrolatumPhenoxyethanol 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.
We don't have a description for Vp/Va Copolymer yet.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water