What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycol
HumectantOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Prunus Cerasus Extract
Antioxidant
Rosa Centifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Homosalate, Propylene Glycol, Glycol, Octocrylene, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octyldodecanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diisopropyl Adipate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristic Acid, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Prunus Cerasus Extract, Rosa Centifolia Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolyamide-8
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Isododecane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Silica Silylate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Triethanolamine, Polyamide-8, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, Caprylyl Glycol, Kaolin, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ceramide AP
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 SalicylateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 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 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 LinaloolOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
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.
Triethanolamine (TEA) is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
If you are looking for the tea leaf ingredient, click here.
Learn more about TriethanolamineWater. 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
