What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
AbrasiveRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Carbonate
PEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialParfum
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingAmyl Cinnamal
PerfumingIsoeugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingBenzyl Cinnamate
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Kaolin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Carbonate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 15850, Citronellol, Coumarin, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxycitronellal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Amyl Cinnamal, Isoeugenol, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningEthyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantIsohexadecane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveBHT
AntioxidantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingGlycolic Acid
BufferingEugenol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingManganese Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveMyristic Acid
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTetrasodium EDTA
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingTourmaline
Citronellol
PerfumingBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylparaben
PreservativeHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Titanium Dioxide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Synthetic Wax, BHT, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Glycolic Acid, Eugenol, Parfum, Manganese Gluconate, Methylparaben, Silica, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Limonene, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Tourmaline, Citronellol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylparaben, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 14700, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AlcoholCitronellol 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 CitronellolEugenol 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 EugenolGeraniol 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 GeraniolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateLimonene 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 ParfumPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Phenoxyethanol 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