What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient
Polyquaternium-37
Parfum
Masking
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
PEG-2 Dimeadowfoamamidoethylmonium Methosulfate
Ceteareth-20
CleansingDimethiconol
Emollient
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPEG-45m
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Erythrulose
TanningCitric Acid
Buffering
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dihydroxyacetone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethoxydiglycol, Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-37, Parfum, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, PEG-2 Dimeadowfoamamidoethylmonium Methosulfate, Ceteareth-20, Dimethiconol, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-45m, Tocopheryl Acetate, Erythrulose, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben
Dihydroxyacetone
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
PPG-5-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Melanin
Skin ProtectingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantHexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLimonene
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Geraniol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dihydroxyacetone, Caramel, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Melanin, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, CI 14700, Hexyl Cinnamal, CI 19140, Citronellol, CI 42090, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Geraniol, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxycitronellal, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is the active ingredient in self-tanners.
It's a simply sugar that reacts with the free amino acids in your outermost layer of skin to produce brown-colored compounds called melanoidins.
DHA does not penetrate living skin cells, does not interact with melanocytes, and does not affect actualy melanin production.
There's a "safety controversy" that largely stems from misinterpreted studies:
Once concern is that DHA can generate unstable molecules that can damage cells (free radicals) when exposed to sunlight. This only happens in the outermost layer of dead skin cells and wearing SPF on top takes care of it.
The DNA damage claim comes from lab studies that doused living skin cells in much higher concentrations of DHA than you'd ever find in a self-tanner. That's not really a meaningful comparison to putting self-tanning lotion on your skin.
Regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and the U.S. FDA consider it safe for use in cosmetics when applied topically (maximum 10%, and most self-tanners contain between 3-5%).
Learn more about DihydroxyacetoneEthoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
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.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
