What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyamide-8
EmollientLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water
Skin ConditioningCoumarin
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Alcohol Denat., Homosalate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Tocopherol, Polyamide-8, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Citronellol, Citral, Water, Coumarin, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Starch
AbsorbentTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSqualane
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingHydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Alumina
Abrasive
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Starch, Titanium Dioxide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Sucrose Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol
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 an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholCitral 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 CitronellolLimonene 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 LinaloolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
