What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialStearyl Alcohol
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sucrose Cocoate
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylamide
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMyrtrimonium Bromide
PreservativeLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Stearate, Alcohol Denat., Stearyl Alcohol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose Cocoate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Laureth-7, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Myrtrimonium Bromide, Linalool, Geraniol, Eugenol, Limonene, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingMadecassoside
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingEugenol
PerfumingTriethanolamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialSalicylic Acid
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingSorbitol
HumectantMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Rosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentDisodium Phosphate
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Alcohol Denat., Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, CI 14700, T-Butyl Alcohol, Madecassoside, Phenoxyethanol, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Eugenol, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Salicylic Acid, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Sorbitol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citric Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEugenol is naturally found in cloves, basil, and bay leaves. It is an aromatic oil used to add fragrance to a product. The scent of eugenol is described as "clove-like". Eugenol is a known EU allergen, meaning it causes contact allergies.
Studies show eugenol possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Besides cosmetics, eugenol is also added as a flavor in teas and cakes.
Learn more about EugenolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLimonene 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 LimoneneParfum 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 âFRAGRANCEâ or âPARFUMâ 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum