What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone
Cetyl Esters
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Candelilla Cera
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingLinalool
Perfuming
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Amodimethicone
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Dilauryl Thiodipropionate
Antioxidant
Trideceth-10
CleansingHydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLimonene
Perfuming
PEG-100 Stearate
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Trideceth-3
EmulsifyingAcetic Acid
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Citric Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Candelilla Cera, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Linalool, Coco-Betaine, Amodimethicone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Trideceth-10, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Chloride, Limonene, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-6, Citronellol, Geraniol, Trideceth-3, Acetic Acid, Ceramide AP
Water
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningDisodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate
Cleansing
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningBis-PCA Dimethicone
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-37
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Bis-PCA Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-37, Butylene Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal
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, 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.
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".
Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.
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 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.
Water. 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
