What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingFarnesol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Oil
MaskingJuniperus Oxycedrus Wood Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMyrocarpus Fastigiatus Oil
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantAlcohol Denat., Water, Biotin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Farnesol, Geraniol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Oil, Juniperus Oxycedrus Wood Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Mentha Piperita Oil, Myrocarpus Fastigiatus Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDiaminopyrimidine Oxide
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSafflower Glucoside
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingArginine
MaskingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingMenthol
MaskingPiroctone Olamine
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingCoumarin
PerfumingParfum
MaskingIngredients 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.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
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 this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
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.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 LimoneneWater. 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