What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Callus Extract
Skin ProtectingZea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Geraniol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Curcuma Longa Callus Extract, Zea Mays Starch, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Eugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Coumarin, CI 19140, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Juniperus Mexicana Wood Oil
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Ferula Galbaniflua Gum Extract
Antimicrobial
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Gum Extract, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGeraniol 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 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 LimonenePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
