What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyacrylamide
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPEG-8 Methicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantC10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Keratin
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Flower Extract
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Propylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, PEG-8 Methicone, Parfum, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Protein, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77163, Mica, CI 77891
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAmodimethicone
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyquaternium-37
Trideceth-5
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSteareth-20
CleansingCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLinalool
PerfumingGlycerin
Humectant2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
PerfumingTrideceth-10
CleansingPPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningGeraniol
PerfumingGlycine
BufferingArginine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingGlutamic Acid
HumectantChlorhexidine Digluconate
AntimicrobialSerine
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingHydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningIsoeugenol
PerfumingSafflower Glucoside
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingTrehalose
HumectantTamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningMyrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract
EmollientParfum
MaskingCyclopentasiloxane, Water, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Amodimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-37, Trideceth-5, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Steareth-20, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linalool, Glycerin, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Citronellol, Trideceth-10, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Geraniol, Glycine, Arginine, Proline, Tyrosine, Glutamic Acid, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Serine, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Isoeugenol, Safflower Glucoside, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Trehalose, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf Extract, Parfum
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 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 CitronellolCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.
Geraniol 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 GeraniolLinalool 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.
Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeWater. 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