What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Amodimethicone
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, Parfum, Trideceth-12, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-11
Isodecyl Oleate
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-68
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentPolyalkylaminoester-1
Polyamide-8
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-75 Stearate
PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-20
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingOleth-10
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citronellol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Polyquaternium-11, Isodecyl Oleate, Myristyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-68, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Polyalkylaminoester-1, Polyamide-8, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-75 Stearate, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Sclerotium Gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-2, Oleth-10, Parfum, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylphenyl Methylpropional is a synthetic fragrance. You might know it as "lilial". The scent of this ingredient is floral-like and similar to the scent of lily flowers.
In March of 2022, the EU banned this ingredient in both rinse-off and leave-on products. This is because research found Butylphenyl Methylpropional to disrupt fertility in rats.
This ingredient is also a known EU allergen, meaning it is likely to cause an allergic reaction. Irritated skin can be damaging.
We always recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns or questions about this ingredient.
Learn more about Butylphenyl MethylpropionalThis 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 AcidCitronellol 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 CitronellolLinalool 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
