What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingParfum
Masking
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polyquaternium-67
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-67, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Amodimethicone
Polyquaternium-37
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTrideceth-5
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Acetic Acid
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningAmyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Amodimethicone, Polyquaternium-37, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trideceth-5, Steareth-20, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Trideceth-10, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sorbitan Oleate, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Acetic Acid, Limonene, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Amyl Cinnamal, Coumarin, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, CI 15985, CI 19140, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid
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 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 AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidCitronellol 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 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
