What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogen Peroxide
AntimicrobialOleyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-2 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLaureth-2
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
PEG/PPG-4/12 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Amodimethicone
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthanolamine
BufferingLauryl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate
Emulsifying
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Taurine
BufferingCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Trideceth-10
CleansingTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Etidronate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingTetrasodium Pyrophosphate
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Steareth-6
EmulsifyingCetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Trideceth-3
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Acetic Acid
BufferingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Oleyl Alcohol, PPG-2 Butyl Ether, Laureth-2, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, PEG/PPG-4/12 Dimethicone, Cocamide Mipa, Amodimethicone, Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Parfum, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Ethanolamine, Lauryl Alcohol, PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Sodium Sulfite, Taurine, Coco-Betaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Myristyl Alcohol, Limonene, Trideceth-10, Trideceth-6, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Linalool, Sodium Salicylate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Benzyl Salicylate, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-6, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Trideceth-3, Glycine Soja Oil, Arginine, Serine, Tocopherol, Glutamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Acetic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Alternatives
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 an aromatic alcohol with several roles: it's a preservative, solvent, and mild fragrance component with a floral scent.
This ingredient has been deemed safe for use in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and up to 10% in hair dyes. You'll typically see 0.5-2% in most rinse-off or leave-on products.
As a preservative, it works by disrupting the membrane of microbial proteins. This helps keep bacteria and fungi from growing in your products.
The sensitization picture is actually quite assuring as well:of nearly 71,000 patients patch tested with benzyl alcohol, only 0.21% showed a positive reaction with most of them being weakly positive.
This led researchers to conclude that benzyl alcohol cannot be regarded as a significant contact allergen.
It is worth noting this ingredient is classified as one of the EU's regulated fragrance allergens and restricted to 1% in finished products.
Labels must also declare it in concentrations above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
At concentrations around 5%, localized redness and itching can appear as a direct irritant response and not as a true allergic reaction.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholBenzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.
In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".
While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.
However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Benzyl SalicylateGlycine Soja Oil is a plant-derived oil from soybean seeds. Like other oils, it is rich in essential fatty acids (mostly linoleic and oleic) that support skin hydration and barrier function.
The fatty acids are able to integrate into the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum to help soften skin and reduce water loss.
On top of that, soybean oil is rich in vitamins like vitamin E, a potent antioxidant.
Research on soybean's active components also point to anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant activity, and protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Most of this research applies to the broader soybean plant and not just the oil fraction alone.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to the oleic acid content.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilParfum 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 ParfumTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
