What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingIsopentyldiol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingC13-15 Alkane
SolventSh-Oligopeptide-78
SurfactantLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Barley Protein
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativeCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialGluconolactone
ChelatingArginine
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingLactic Acid
BufferingCellulose
AbsorbentC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingIsopropyl Alcohol
SolventC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingAmyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitrus Aurantium Peel Oil
Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingGeranyl Acetate
PerfumingIsoeugenyl Acetate
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLinalyl Acetate
MaskingPinene
MaskingTetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
MaskingVanillin
MaskingWater, Cellulose Gum, Isopentyldiol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sodium Benzoate, C13-15 Alkane, Sh-Oligopeptide-78, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Barley Protein, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Gluconolactone, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Lactic Acid, Cellulose, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Parfum, Amyl Salicylate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Citrus Aurantium Peel Oil, Dimethyl Phenylethyl Carbinyl Acetate, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Isoeugenyl Acetate, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Pinene, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Vanillin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBehentrimonium Chloride
PreservativePolyquaternium-4
Potato Starch Modified
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingMethylparaben
PreservativeLimonene
PerfumingAmodimethicone
Cetyl Alcohol
EmollientQuaternium-87
CleansingBehentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantQuaternium-33
Trideceth-6
Emulsifying2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGlycerin
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCetrimonium Chloride
AntimicrobialTrehalose
HumectantTamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Carbomer, Behentrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-4, Potato Starch Modified, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Methylparaben, Limonene, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Quaternium-87, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Quaternium-33, Trideceth-6, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Geraniol, Linalool, Glycerin, Citronellol, Citral, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trehalose, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract, Parfum
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 a preservative and often used for it's anti-static properties. You'll most likely see this ingredient in hair conditioners.
It does not cause irritation or sensitization in leave-on products at 1-5%.
This ingredient is a preservative, antimicrobial, and emulsifier. It is often used in cosmetics for its ability to cleanse, condition, and reduce static.
Cetrimonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt, meaning it has a water-soluble structure.
Citronellol 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 CitronellolGeraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.
Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.
Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.
Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.
Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.
Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.
2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-
Learn more about GeraniolLimonene 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 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