What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Glucoside
SurfactantOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein/Siloxysilicate
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
C13-15 Alkane
SolventSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Maltitol
HumectantPelvetia Canaliculata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
2,4-Dimethyl-3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Cis-3-Hexenyl Methyl Carbonate
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Ethyl Linalool
Masking
Terpineol
Masking
2-T-Butylcyclohexyl Acetate
Masking
Neryl Acetate
Perfuming
Alpha-Damascone
Masking
Gamma-Undecalactone
Perfuming
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingGeranyl Acetate
Perfuming
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Masking
1-Naphthol
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingC13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Water, Glycerin, Heptyl Glucoside, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Rice Protein/Siloxysilicate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Aspergillus Ferment, Arginine, C13-15 Alkane, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Maltitol, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitol, Aspartic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, 2,4-Dimethyl-3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Cis-3-Hexenyl Methyl Carbonate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Ethyl Linalool, Terpineol, 2-T-Butylcyclohexyl Acetate, Neryl Acetate, Alpha-Damascone, Gamma-Undecalactone, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Geranyl Acetate, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, 1-Naphthol, Ethylene Brassylate, C13-16 Isoparaffin
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Amodimethicone
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingLimonene
Perfuming
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Limonene 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
