What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingUndecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Hydrated Silica, Lauric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Hydrogenated Vegetable Glycerides, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Cocamide Mea, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Citric Acid, Zinc Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
PEG-8 Distearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyisobutene
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Urea, Paraffinum Liquidum, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-8 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Allantoin, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateHexyl Cinnamal is a fragrance ingredient with a similar scent to jasmine. It can be naturally found in chamomile essential oil.
This ingredient is a known EU allergen and may sensitize the skin. The EU requires this ingredient to be listed separately on an ingredients list.
Hexyl Cinnamal is not water soluble but is soluble in oils.
Learn more about Hexyl CinnamalLinalool 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 ParfumWater. 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
