What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Cera
EmollientOlea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
Parfum
MaskingRhus Verniciflua Peel Cera
EmollientShorea Robusta Resin
TonicHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingRicinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera, Olea Europaea Oil Unsaponifiables, Tapioca Starch, Parfum, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera, Shorea Robusta Resin, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Linalool
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientQuaternium-95
UV AbsorberAllanblackia Stuhlmannii Seed Butter
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningLitchi Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingHexamethylindanopyran
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Pinene
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingRose Ketones
PerfumingRicinus Communis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ozokerite, Diisostearyl Malate, Sorbitan Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Quaternium-95, Allanblackia Stuhlmannii Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Water, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Hexamethylindanopyran, Limonene, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Pinene, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Citral, Linalyl Acetate, Linalool, Rose Ketones
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
This ingredient shows up on a lot of "pore-clogging" lists but there's no real evidence behind that. It doesn't even have a comedogenic rating from an actual study; the numbers you'll find online come from blogs citing other blogs.
Ratings for other ingredients mostly come from a 1980s rabbit ear test. This test doesn't translate well to human skin or to real products because the ingredient sits at a much lower percentage.
Some people still find it breaks them out. So if that's you, definitely trust your skin. Just know this one's based on experience and not evidence.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterHydrogenated Castor Oil (aka "castor wax") is what you get when castor oil is turned into a wax.
Its dominant fatty acid is ricinoleic acid, giving it both emollient and mild humectant properties.
According to EU CosIng, this ingredient helps soften skin, keep oil and water stay mixed, and thickens products.
Hydrogenated castor oil at 30% did not trigger a positive patch-test reaction and is well-tolerated.
Since this ingredient is based on an 18-carbon fatty acid, it falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia can feed on and may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Castor OilLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool 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 ParfumThis ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed Oil