What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Parfum, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Carbomer, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polycitronellol T-Butyl Ether
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate
Skin Conditioning
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingBehenamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyporus Umbellatus Extract
Skin ProtectingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningLauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate
EmollientPolyquaternium-11
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Steareth-20
CleansingCeteth-20
CleansingPEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Parfum
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polycitronellol T-Butyl Ether, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, C10-18 Triglycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fructose, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Lauryl/Myristyl Polyricinoleate, Polyquaternium-11, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-(Isostearoyl/Oleoyl Isopropyl) Dimonium Methosulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Steareth-20, Ceteth-20, PEG-75 Stearate, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citronellol 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 CitronellolGlycerin (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 “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 ParfumSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
