What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningOctylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Va/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingParfum
MaskingNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract
AbrasiveRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
MaskingTriethyl Citrate
MaskingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSd Alcohol 40-B, Water, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Va/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Parfum, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Isododecane, Linalool, Panthenol, Glycerin, Hydroxycitronellal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Citronellol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Triethyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sd Alcohol 40-B
AstringentWater
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Hydroxyesters Acrylates Copolymer
Va/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer
Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone
Algae Extract
EmollientAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Leaf Extract
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingParfum
MaskingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingSd Alcohol 40-B, Water, Acrylates/Hydroxyesters Acrylates Copolymer, Va/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer, Bisamino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl Pg-Propyl Dimethicone, Algae Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Panthenol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract is a botanical extract pulled from the leaves of aloe vera and one of the most studied plant ingredients in cosmetics.
The inner leaf gel it comes from is mostly water (~99-99.5%) and the remaining fraction is made up of pretty good stuff: polysaccharides, vitamins, phenolics, and enzymes.
Its headline job is hydration.
The star polysaccharide in aloe, acemannan, is a humectant that retains moisture and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
Aloe also has real soothing credentials; it contains anti-inflammatory compounds like bradykinase and C-glucosyl chromone that help calm irritation and redness.
On the repair side, lab work shows that acemannan wakes up your skin's repair cells (fibroblasts), prompting them to multiply and speed up healing.
There's some human data for cosmetic benefit too: a cream containing 10% Aloe Barbadensis leaf extract improved skin hydration and elasticity in a real-use study.
Safety-wise, this ingredient is well-regarded with just one rare downside; there have been some case reports of acute eczema, contact urticaria, and dermatitis in people who applied aloe-derived ingredients topically. Those with a known aloe or Liliaceae sensitivity should patch test.
Typical use levels range widely, from under 1% up to 90%+ depending on the format and the effect you are after.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf ExtractAminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
Amyl Cinnamal is a synthetically produced fragrance. Its scent is reminiscent of jasmine flowers.
Amyl Cinnamal is a known EU allergen. This means it is known to cause skin sensitivity and allergies.
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract is from the Roman Chamomile flower. It helps soothe the skin and contains antioxidants.
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 AlcoholBenzyl Benzoate is usually created from the condensation of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It is used as a preservative, solvent, and has a floral/balsamic scent in large amounts.
As a preservative, Benzyl Benzoate works against bacteria and fungus. It is often used to treat scabies and lice in medicine.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Due to its fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate can be sensitizing and may cause contact dermatitis. It is a known EU allergen. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Benzyl Benzoate can be naturally found in cranberries and peaches.
Learn more about Benzyl BenzoateHexyl 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 CinnamalHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
Linalool 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 LinaloolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolParfum 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 ParfumSD Alcohol 40-B is created by denaturing ethanol with tert-Butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate. It is a solvent and astringent.
The 'SD' stands for 'specially denatured'. Denatured alcohol means the structure has been altered.
The 40-B is given by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This is in accordance to the method of how the alcohol was denatured.
This ingredient is a solvent alcohol.
Learn more about Sd Alcohol 40-BWe don't have a description for Va/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water