What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Magnesium Nitrate
Magnesium Chloride
Aminopropyl Triethoxysilane
SurfactantPolyquaternium-2
PPG-30
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitronellol
Perfuming
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Lactic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, Aminopropyl Triethoxysilane, Polyquaternium-2, PPG-30, Salicylic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Carbomer, Citronellol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-7
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-55
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingDimethiconol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPanthenyl Triacetate
Trisodium EDTA
ChelatingCellulose
Absorbent
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide Mea, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Glycol Distearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-7, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-55, Tetrasodium EDTA, Dimethiconol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenyl Triacetate, Trisodium EDTA, Cellulose, Limonene, Linalool
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateLimonene 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 ParfumChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
